Senegal: Thousands protest for the release of the mayor of Dakar

This gathering was the first manifestation of "Manko Taxawu Senegal", a coalition of opposition parties, including the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), formed in late April in Legislative

elections of 30 July.
The protest, which was attended by several opposition leaders, was aimed in particular at denouncing the incarceration of the mayor Khalifa Sall and demanding transparency in the management of the deposits of oil and gas discovered in the country.Khalifa Sall, Mayor of Dakar since 2009, has been in preventive detention since 7 March.Mr Sall, a likely candidate in the 2019 presidential election against President Macky Sall, who has been in power since 2012, is faced with "unjustified" expenses of more than € 2.7 million to the detriment of Town hall, according to justice, which he denies.His supporters attribute his legal setbacks to his dissenting status of the Socialist Party (PS), a member of the ruling coalition, and the presidential majority, allegations refuted by the authorities."For the liberation of Khalifa Sall", it was possible to read on Friday banners and placards carried by the protesters, several of which wore T-shirts bearing the image of opposition officials.President Macky Sall's "lack of record" justifies his repeated attacks on the opposition, "by manipulating our judicial system against political opponents," said former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck."If Khalifa Sall is in prison, it is because he is a political hostage but it is not because he has diverted money," said Pape Diop, former mayor of Dakar and Former President of the National Assembly. 

Stakeholders called for good oil and gas management.
Senegal's Prime Minister, Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne, told reporters on Thursday that the government was handling the issue of hydrocarbons with transparency after signing exploration and exploitation contracts with foreign companies.

Tags: AFP