The situation in Senegal is currently very alarming. There is violent protests against the actual president who's willing tu run for a 3rd mandat, which he's not allowed to. Adding to that, the fact that him (the actual president) and his government are threatening us, by taking from us our law given rights to expressly free ourselves and protest. Anybody who dares to do so, is physically harmed and then put into jail for fallacious reasons. Since June 1st, we stood together as one to fight to have our freedom back from this dictator regime ; and as a result people are severely beaten in the streets by the police. They are using tear gas and gun machines against us unarmed civilians, we count not less than 16 deaths in only 4 days of protest ; and hundreds of people are arrested and put into jail. This is a massive murder they're perpetrating against us. Now that we're trying to inform the rest of the world about this dictature, they've shut down the internet from mobile data and blocked access to social media. As we speak, only those who can afford WiFi costs have access to Internet, and yet we're forced to use VPNs to bypass those restrictions. But we're not backing down, the world must know about their crimes. Please help us amplify what's happening here 🙏

FreeSenegal ✊

why people that dont follow sonko in senegal are silenced? i just saw someone make a post on twitter to say that they should "take care " of this subbreddit. now there is a bunch of new people with 1 karma that will flood this subreddit ?? i find that crazy backward. et puis nioune beugouniou macky sall sakh, on donne juste notre avis, please this is not twitter guys lets stay good fellow redditors.

Video footage in the comments

Violent protests have erupted in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in jail. Dozens have been killed in clashes with police, while supermarkets and petrol stations have been vandalised.

Sonko was cleared of rape but found guilty of ‘immoral behaviour.’ His supporters say the charges are trumped up and designed to prevent him from running in next year’s presidential election - one in which they fear President Macky Sall will try and win an ‘unconstitutional’ third term.

Some of Sonko’s supporters burned French flags in the streets of Dakar. They see Paris as having a hand in Sonko’s political persecution, due to his strongly anti-French stance.

Senegal belongs to ‘Françafrique‘- a bloc of former French colonies still under the sway sway of Paris, politically and economically. Senegal uses the CFA franc and hosts multiple large French businesses accused of undercutting locals, while a French firm operates toll roads that are seen as a symbol of inequality in a country where 40% are under the poverty line.

There’s growing resistance to French influence across The Sahel. Burkina Faso and Mali, for example, have both expelled French ambassadors, journalists and troops - with Paris, no doubt, concerned that Senegal too is now spiralling out of its orbit.

Let’s not forget that France has form when it comes to using underhand tactics to get its way on our continent. For instance, when Guinea left the CFA franc, Paris flooded the country with counterfeit notes - in a bid to destabilise its economy.

Today, I have seen people in this sub that are engaged in misinformation and manipulation of content. The current protests in Senegal are not solely about a third term for President Macky Sall or political prisoners. Rather, some supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko are protesting his two-year prison sentence. Sonko was accused of rape by an employee of a beauty salon named Adji Sarr.

For those interested in the situation, I recommended to follow local media outlets for accurate information. International media sources may not be reliable, as they often present information in a way that is sensationalized to attract readers, and may leave out critical parts of the story.

To those who don't know, the reason social media/ mobile internet gas been blocked is because there is a group of people trying to take over, sending hate messages, giving people information on how to make molotov cocktails, giving away addresses of government members or just people who speak against their ideas so other people go and burn down their homes, cars. People were also sending directives to crowd of mobs giving them targets to attack. That's how they force open, pillage supermarkets.

UCAD, the university of Dakar, has also been targeted. Faculties have been burnt down, multiple busses, I dare say close to hundreds, have also been burnt down.

The Rapid Transit Bus has been a work in progress for years now. Close to completion, the angry mobs also targeted it, shattering all the glasses and destroying all they could on the infrastructure.

I believe those are the reasons social medias have been blocked. To prevent dissemination of all the hate speeches and reduce the coordination faculties of those leading the crowds of mobs.

People also talk of political prisoners. Most of them are put in jail for spreading hate speech and pushing youngsters into commiting violent acts for the sole purpose of every (almost) politician - take the presidential throne -

We also speak of police violence. I've never been a fan of them, I don't think anyone who's ever been into a protest likes them much because they will try to disperse crowds whenever things get violent or out of hand. There may have been mistakes made by them, but then again light needs to be put into it. I myself have witnessed them retreating when overtaken by the crowds instead of using their firearms. Also no one ever posted here the videos of cops gettings molested by the angry mobs, or the one where the inert cop on the ground was surrounded, rocks being thrown at him, while the others retreated because they couldn't carry him away. They could have fired but they never did.

Macky Sall government is far from perfect and there's a lot the next government will have to put light into. But the people posting here are never painting the whole story, thus doing a disservice to those who come for information.

All and all what I'm saying is, everyone can have their beliefs, but when giving information to people in here, try and paint the whole picture instead of just trying to influence people.

Wa salaam

freeSenegal

Skip to the Last part for 2023 specifics reading everything would really enlighten you tho.

Location and Alliances

• Senegal is located in West Africa bordering Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Bissau Guinea and Gambia. Senegal is also part of ECOWAS ( Economic Community of West African States) and AU (African Union). ECOWAS has an economic centric objective and AU is justice and development of Africa focused.
• Every single one of the nations that border Senegal has had a military coup in its history except Senegal. Every attempt in Senegal failed and Senegal was regarded until today as a model of democracy.

French Control / Neocolonialism

Senegal was a well ruled country despite its politics being mainly ruled by France from the shadow, France hold the reserve of CFA Francs currency and print it for 15 countries. 15 sovereign nations are entirely dependent on France's currency. France also control most of their seaports and has priority in every new market offering with mandatory acceptance for these nations. Despite its many resources Senegal is a very poor country it has gold, zircon, lots of sea territory for fishing, clay and many more industry needed resources and forestry that I can adequately explain. France also has military bases in most of these countries until recently they've been kicked out by Burkina and Mali. Recently lots of Gas and Oil sources have been found in Senegal and that could change the lives of millions of Senegalese citizen (keep that in mind as you read)

Abdoulaye Wade, Macky Sall, Dirty Politics and Spiraling Debt

​

• Macky Sall is the 4TH president of Senegal, elected in 2012. Before him It was Abdoulaye Wade who was president since the year 2000. It's mainly under Abdoulaye Wade that the country started changing landscape major road construction, more and more building and a decade long plan to move the airport to a less cramped space thus giving us the AIBD Airport replacing LSS airport. A new agriculture program GOANA and many more projects.
• But it's also under Wade that nepotism got higher in his government were new ministry official position created for his "friends" in ridiculous position. A government in which Macky Sall took part and eventually became prime minister.
• With the rising nepotism the first embezzlement campaign started with ministers and deputies having safes filled with billions of cfa. For context back in 2007 a billion wasn't an imaginable number it had just became mainstream. It first rise with their own son stealing from them, then their sons and daughters traveling all over the word as new millionaires. For context their parents were poor prior to being in the government. Then arrest for drug usages, luxury car crashes. In a blink of an eye rose a new wave of billionaires and families that were above the law. Coincidentally the economic crisis of 2007 made the population even poorer in comparison.
• Politics mixing with religious figures, violence at political rallies and the birth of "nervis" basically political henchmen paid to beat opponents or whoever stand in their way and the police ignored them since they were being paid by people that were very high in the political ladder (ministers, friends of the president etc....)

3rd Mandate, Abdoulaye Wade vs The People (Macky Sall and Youssou Ndour incl.)

​

• In 2011, at the end of his 2nd mandate Abdoulaye Wade pushed for a new legislation that would make him able to push for a 3rd mandate and have his good-for-nothing son as vice-president a novelty that the people didn't welcome at all. His former Prime Minister Macky Sall and a lot of opposition political parties and social justice movements, and rappers and Youssou NDOUR (famous singer) banding together and protesting initially peacefully and gradually throwing rocks at the FDS (Forces of Security, police and Constables)

Link Archive Protest Youtube: https://youtu.be/i224i8CTB64

Link Archive Macky Sall Coallition : https://youtu.be/P_wigR7JFYY

• Macky Sall was appointed leader of the movement, and toured Senegal to present his ideas. Despite his opposition to Wade he never suffered persecution or attacks by police forces or any other charges by the justice system. However Dirty Politics was Macky Sall never physically suffered and had his constitutional rights respected. [Remember This it's relevant in 2023]
• Occasionally he would be pelted with pebbles by some people that were against his ideas but never by the police or any other FDS.
• Ultimately Abdoulaye Wade would give up and lose the election and leave graciously without anything in fact the police forces allowed the protesters to walk freely up to the gates of the Palais Presidentiel.

Hopes, Justice, Regrets and Embezzlement of Funds

• In Macky Sall, Senegalese people had high hopes, not so charismatic a leader he had a humble upbringing which inspired hope. He had worked under the previous govt and had extensive knowledge of the populations suffering, the poverty and nepotism.
• He would go on to track the people that embezzled funds under Wade's presidency : La traque aux biens mal-acquis which recovered 200 Billions of CFA Francs (305 millions euros) in 2012 according to Macky Sall's prime minister of the time Aminata Toure

Dynasty Faye-Sall, War of Gains and Scandalous Deals (Petro Tim Oil & Gas)

Then slowely but crescendo new names started popping in the government, branded as the FAYE-SALL dynasty : Macky Sall, his wife Marieme Faye and the in laws Aliou Sall and Mansour Faye.

• A war of opportunities between Aliou Sall, brother of Macky Sall and Marieme Faye, the first lady.
• Petro Tim $10 Billion Scandal | Sunu 400,000
• Aliou Sall would make the news for signing scandalous deals mainly the Petro-Tim Scandal for embezzling 10 billion dollars (from here on out we will be talking in dollars because the amounts are ridiculously high). He would be accused of corruption, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and criminal association. A report by BBC and Africa Eye states that Alious Sall had also been by Petro Tim through a fictive company that he owned.
• In a statement**, Ousmane Sonko called the senegalese youth to demostrate against these scandals until appropriate measures are taken**. Another revelation of the report was the takeover of Franck Timis' group's stake in 2017 by British Company BP. Timis Corp is a firm run by Romanian-Australian tycoon Frank Timis. According to the BBC report BP had agreed to pay Timis $10 billion in royalty payments for its stake in the two blocks. Senegal's offshore oil and gas reserve have the potentiak to transform the country when they begin flowing in the next decade with volumes expected to rival some of the region's biggest producer.
• A campaign started online in which every citizen claim they are entitled to at least 400,000 CFA ($653 usd) from each of the payment that Aliou Sall received with the catchphrase << sunu 400,000>>
• Despite all of that, the judge would squash the procedure rather quickly, it helps to have your brother as president.
• Mansour Faye, The Arrogant Baron (SDE - SEN'EAU / COVID 19 Funds)
• Mansour Faye has a reputation of being a vindictive and arrogant public figure. He will first be remembered for signing a contract for water distribution through SEN'EAU with french company Group Suez killing in the process local company Sénégalaise Des Eaux (SDE) a company that oversaw the water distribution for decades.
• Mansour FAYE is also mentioned in the Cour des Comptes report regarding the misuse and embezzlement of the Covid 19 relief funds. The covid 19 relief funds was of 1000 billion CFA FRANC (over $1.6 billion USD)
• Mansour Faye's daughter studied in the US and came back portrayed as a model for the youth with her ranch and agribusiness which is an insult to the senegalese citizen who can't even afford school fees in some part their own country let alone own land and get a degree in the US. A nepobaby fed with nepotrustfunds and nepoland to build her nepomoney paid business. She said : << you shouldn't be afraid of failure>> easy to say with billions in the bank.

See here the BBC documentary that angered the Senegalese citizens: https://youtu.be/1TAN6PsxKAc

• Mansour Faye will also have some of the harshest comment when several fatal car crash happened in early 2023 in which 63 people died in 8 days. In light of the lack of regulation, the state of the roads and the laissez-aller in the transportation industry, many asked for his resignation in which he would coldly reply : << To the people expecting my resignation, they will need more stamina>>

See video here: https://youtu.be/eS8UV8EtykQ

• Which only proves their lack of empathy towards the citizens they are supposed to serve. One thing that is very common with the entire dynasty Faye-Sall is the disdain, and hatred toward the suffering and needs of the senegalese citizens.
• When people asked in 2021 for better roads and that the tollgate highway was expensive. President Macky Sall replied that: <<It is what is. If you want to drive on fancy road with no plot holes you pay and you use the tollgate highway. But we have an alternative which is the RN1 (National Road)>>

see video here: https://youtu.be/r4DHowh8KLo

• And I can't think of the countless lawsuits for defamation against anybody that tried to expose their true natures. Mansour Faye is very fond of lawsuits and has had a few in his arrogance and power he seems out of touch with reality.
• Whenever addressing the nation he would do it in a patronizing and arrogant way, so much so some people do not listen and would just read the ministry's tweets.

The others (Moustapha Niasse, Youssou Ndour, Mame Mbaye Niang...)

• As mentionned earlier Youssou Ndour was part of the coalition and protesting alongside Macky Sall against the 3rd mandate of Abdoulaye Wade. Youssou Ndour was in fact a candidate for the election but his candidacy was invalidated because his taxes. Youssou Ndour was not a law abiding tax paying citizens according to reports of that era.
• Taxes that he never proved having paid, he would later join Macky Sall's government as Minister-Adviser. Yet another nepo-position in which he will bask in even more riches and allegedly not paying his taxes.
• The most notable thing about him is how loud his silence is regarding every protest against the current regime, in 2021 and 2023.
• You can see him in this video actively protesting in 2011 along with the M23 movement: https://youtu.be/H0hZhNKLUXg
• Moustapha Niasse, the political dinosaur born in 1939 he has been invested in politics as early as 1970 and has been part of every government since. Nothing notable about him beside him clinging to a hope of becoming president he has always been at side of the regime even when the regime is unjust and flat-out wrong. Nothing to say beside good riddance in September 2022 his term as President of Congress ended. He will be remembered for turning the Congress into a shitshow where legislation from Macky Sall passed as will.
• Mame Mbaye Niang the good-for-nothing turned billionaire he was a protestor in 2011 you can see him here protesting at the gate of congress (the coward in brown shirt and jeans who fled when the cop came close) : https://youtu.be/nklxXTZF_no
• A report by the IGF (General Inspection of Finances) revealed how funds have been embezzled once again by a small group of political figure in which we count Mame Mbaye Niang (then minister of Youth, Employment and Infrastructure) and his close friend Ibrahima Cisse; The funds amount to over $800,000 USD (517,864,401 CFA Francs) for the PRODAC project which earned him the nickname Mbaye Prodac. A project that should have created 180 000 jobs provided only 1500 between 2014 and 2018. Coincidentally Mame Mbaye Niang became a billionaire in the same period.
• Ousmane Sonko would go on to make that report public by accusing Mame Mbaye Niang of stealing from the State and the citizen. A deficit of 178,500 jobs from the PRODAC project is beyond criminal knowing that Unemployement Rate of the active population in 2018 was of 14,3% according to the National Statistics Agency (ANSD)

The Claws of France gripping harder

• Between 2012 and 2023, the arrival of French companies surged to a new high with Auchan and Carrefour competing directly with local businesses at lower prices due to allegedly lesser taxes, SEN'EAU killing SDE for water distribution.
• Major civil engineering projects being given to french companies such as Eiffage. In fact EIFFAGE, ALSTOM, SYSTRA and SNCF together built the TER (Train Express Regional) an airport rail link of only 36km for the first part already built for the price of over $1 billion USD (656 billions CFA) a project the government is really proud of.
• The project is putting Senegal in even greater debt since Senegal only funded the project with 142.5 billion cfa and 3 loans from La Banque Islamique de Développement (196 billion CFA), l'Agence Française de développement et le trésor français (196.5 billion CFA) and la Banque Africaine de Développement (120 billion CFA)

Harder Living Conditions

• With inflation, soaring prices of virtually everything such as housing, house essentials, food, transportation and gas...
• Under equipped school with huts as classrooms in some remote region of Senegal Abris Provisoire au Sénégal
• The NGO workers are gentrifying Dakar these people who are supposed to work socially on topics of poverty, are the one actually escaping poverty they are in Dakar partying spending lots of money in places raising significantly the cost of leaving.
• Under equipped hospitals with aging/failing equipment as in Kedougo where a small outpost with barely nothing it's not covid 19 that kills people rarther illnesses that can easily be cured in bigger cities such as malaria, transport of patients is also a huge challenge with patient being transported to bigger hospitals 200 or 300km away with no ambulance rather horse-drawn carts. The same problem in several regions of Senegal. In contrast, the political figures leaving the country every now and then to get medical treatment in France or the US. A symbol of their own failure in building anything important in this country.

The Rise of Ousmane Sonko

• Ousmane Sonko is a former Chief Tax Inspector in Senegal and advocate for reformation of the Senegalese Tax System. He was fired from his position as Chief Tax Inspector for being a whistleblower in many cases of fund embezzlement of High Profile Politicians (Aliou Sall, Mame Mbaye Niang...)
• He would go on to engage in politics and became the youngest candidate to run in 2019 at 44 years old. He rose to fame in politics among the youth due to his credentials as chief tax officer and the overall ethic in his work as mentioned by many of his former colleagues. A man who turned down bribes from the biggest companies in the countries and focused on his duty. The narrative is beautiful and confirmed itself as years passed and people learned more about him. He finished 3rd in 2019 as a newbie in politics.
• An even bigger achievement when you learn about the vote manipulation in the 2019 elections as exposed in Story Killers with the employment of Team Jorge a disinformation for hire company. Ousmane Sonko was victim of gigantic smear campaign with fake documents and false claims.
• See the documentary titled : #StoryKillers: A deep dive into 'Team Jorge', the disinformation mercenaries operating worldwide
• With Ousmane Sonko rising to be the candidates of the youth (over Half of the senegalese population) several attempt at destroying his reputation took place, he would be labeled a liar until the LGE, IGF and BBC report are published.
• Ousmane Sonko became Congressman made fierce speeches in which he called out the disrespect towards Senegalese citizens by which the congress dealt with important matters. Congress was a place of chit-chat and arguments where the political affiliation was the only thing that mattered to any of the parties involved and occasionally throwing hands (fighting)
• He also authored a book called Solutions in which he advances many ideas to push this country forward, economically and socially with an emphasis on education, economy, health and employment.
• Mame Mbaye Niang would accuse him of defamation in the PRODAC case;
• He also exposed the excessive cost of the TER Project.

Macky Sall's 3rd Mandate, Sonko-Adji Sarr, 2021 Protests

• Macky Sall' 3rd Mandate
• Macky Sall is ineligible to a 3rd successive term as stated in the Article 27 of the constitution of Senegal "Nul ne peut faire plus de 2 mandat consécutifs"
• Macky Sall served a 1st term of 7 years from 2012 to 2019 but in 2016 a referendum took place in which the presidential term would go down from 7 to 5 years. Taking effect after his first term in case he get re-elected.
• Having nearly served his 2nd Term 2019 - 2024 (we are in 2023) he eluded a 3rd term trying to loophole his way into a 3rd term using the Article 27 claiming that it's his first mandate of 5 years. Which is wrong the Article 27 existed way before the 2016 referendum and it is explicitly states that no-one can do 2 more than 2 successive term.
• Curfew and Police Brutality
• In 2020 mask mandate is effective and a curfew is established, which made life very difficult for workers who had to commute. The police officers used extreme violence to enforce it. Beating people who were out at curfew with sticks making them crawl on the floor. While the population suffered inside, the rich politicians and their family hosted private parties outside
• When the first Vaccines arrived in Senegal, the first Lady Marieme Faye hosted a private vaccination party at her residence with no respect of masks or crowd control this angered people
• That was the last straw people started burning tires and protesting for the removal of this stupid curfew which they are the only one to suffer from
• Additional context: In Senegal a lot of houses don't cook dinner they buy porridge to local (diaykatou fondé/thiéré/thiakri) that sell at night from 8pm to 12pm. These cheap porridge is what feed lots of people in poor neighbourhood a bowl filled with nourishing food for 100 to 200f cfa. Some houses are overcrowded with over 20 individuals in a 2 story building during summer these people stay outside with their friends and relatives there is a sense of community and togetherness. They only leave for bedtime. The houses cramped and it gets really hot in the summer (up to 35° c / 95°F)
• Sonko-Adji Sarr
• In 2020, during the Covid 19 pandemic, Ousmane Sonko is accused at first of Rape with Threats at gunpoint by a worker at a massaging place he is a customer of. He says it's a conspiracy to make him ineligible for the 2024 elections in which Macky Sall want to be part of.
• Then discrepancies started growing, the medical examination disproved any trace of sexual violence, the officer (Captain Touré) to which the complaint was filed smelled a political conspiracy and fled. Adji Sarr the alleged victim is first believed by a portion of the population but as she goes from reporter to reporter saying different things here and there the growing sentiment of empathy turned to disdain because to many she was definitely lying.
• The case would be ongoing for 2 years 2020 to 2023 and Sonko would be proven non guilty on the counts of Rape and Death Threats since no proof or witness were presented. Everybody that went on to speak would disprove in a way or another the claims of Adji Sarr. The medical official, the officer and her coworkers, boss and his husband. BUT despite all of this Ousmane Sonko is sentenced to 2 years of prison for "corruption of youth".
• Throughout the case, Ousmane Sonko has been held at home by the police not letting him go out, he was kidnapped twice by the police while he was touring the country and forcefully taken home and every supporter of Ousmane Sonko has been labelled a terrorist or an MFDC member.( A very dangerous claim that could turn this conflict into an ethnic war. The southern people are remarquable people and the stigma of separatism they are labeled with could be very dangerous.)
• Protest erupted in march 2021 which beyond Sonko's mistreatment was a protest for everything that is wrong in the country like the Gilets Jaune in France. The police started shooting live rounds, one victim in particular Cheikh Wade is shot in the while he waved his senegalese flag by a police officer in Parcelles Assainies (Dakar) the 2 day protest would make 14 victims, 14 civilians killed.
• Mansour Faye would go on to declare that "Occult forces" are responsible of the 14 dead civilians.

Amnesty International Article : https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/03/senegal-one-year-after-march-2021-families-demand-justice

2023 Protests

After sentencing Ousmane Sonko to 2 years of prison, he is at first kidnapped while he travelled back home from Ziguinchor occasionally touring the country ,held at home and the people are out protesting to end this masquerade, for Macky Sall to either leave Sonko alone and finish his 2nd term or to leave the country altogether.

There's already 600 political prisoners before the protest.

The police shot live rounds, beat up and runned over several people.

And a new type of tear cas that can blow your limbs.

The people are fighting for a better future. Macky Sall doesn't care about Senegalese people. Senegalese so desperate for a better future that many died at sea on shipwrecks trying to reach europe on rafts or canoes.

In 2019, 210 senegalese people died in the mediteranée trying to reach europe because there's nothing left of hope of a better future in thish country, in novembre 2020, 414 senegalese people died at sea trying to ge to europe according to IOM

The 2023 protest showed an escalation of violence from the police, the constables and the 'nervis' these paid militias that have gone increasingly violent with machetes and semi automatic rifles and handguns. Fighting along side the police they have killed 28 people officially many were shot.

The Freedom to tour the country that Macky Sall was offered by Abdoulaye Wade is what Macky Sall is denying Ousmane Sonko.

The 3rd mandate that Macky Sall thought for is what he is denying us all.

Abdoulaye Wade never asked for the police to shoot at civilians, under his presidency killing in broad daylight wasn't a thing, he may have been a bad tyrant but Macky Sall infinitely a hating arrogant good for nothing that is acclaimed as Political Genius a lapdog if anything.

A warzone atmosphere against unarmed civilians.

The government issued an order for the internet to be cut off

Everybody is using vpns to keep the outside informed. Today, June 4th the mobile data were cut off only wifi network worked in order to keep protesters at home.

A terrible rumour that spent chills down my spine earlier today a senegalese citizen called on live tv saying he saw DEAD BODIES IN REFRIGERATED TRUCKSS BEING THROWN AT SEA near the Diamalaye Beach. The senegalese citizens are enquiring about it. Some people have confirmed through text but I am yet to believe it until photo or video proof is shown. We are talking about mass execution I will not believe it until I see proof of it.

This a very long and tedious thing to write and I'm doing it because I am afraid the Senegalese people will be cut off from the world and die in the dark.

The sound of an entire nations going silent is something I have witnessed once and I hope I never do.

ECOWAS took a neutral stance may the wrath of God be upon them.

For once in my lifetime I wish for Military Coup if it means the killers will be stopped. Please save the longest lasting WEST African democracy.

Please Spread the word under #FreeSenegal. A senegalese fearing for his freedom.

How is it today in Dakar ?

Before Internet gets completely shutdown in Senegal, I wanted to tell the following: the fiercest opponent of Today's Macky Sall is 2011 Macky Sall.

The man is a living contradiction.

When running for the 2012 presidential elections he declared "the magic of the click will face the power of cash (fric in French) the police (flic in Fr)", referring to how social media would expose repression and foster freedom of speech.

He claimed his family would never come close to the countries affairs. His brother is a minister and both him and brother in law have become mayors.

" I will only do a five year term instead of seven years", he did a seven year term.

"I will not allow anyone to do more than two terms in Senegal", last week he said there's nothing that can prevent him from running for office for a third term.

"I will fight corruption and implement good governance". We can cite dozens of instances of money laundering, corruption, imbezzlement...

The list goes on and on

Chances are you have tried/may try connecting to the internet via your mobile phone.

"Public authorities decided to put a restriction on mobile internet" says Orange Senegal on Twitter.

This is yet another infringement on freedom of information and of expression by the Senegalese government after blacklisting social media for three days.

Hi.

My wife is set to travel to Sénégal for work on june 7th. She will spend most of her time in Dakar and Diourbel.

We are concerned with the current civil unrest that is happening in dakar. I think it's dangerous and risky to travel there right now ? Am I over reacting ? Also we are afraid she will not be able tonuse her cell phone to communicate with our family.

Is Dakar really under heavy civil unrest ? Are businesses still running ?

Would you suggest to cancel the travel ?

Thanks.

We might have the next level of escalation with the internet restrictions, since around an hour I'm unable to ping anything with LTE besides the Sonatel Dakar Server. My WIFI on the other hand can still connect to the rest of the world through the Sonatel Thies server. I'm not an expert on this matter but from my basic understanding I would conclude that the Sonatel Dakar Server has been cut from the rest of the world. This might be a accident or bug but could also be a new level of escalation.

Let's gather some feedback here what internet/phone provider do you guys use, through which server does it go and if if it's currently working.

Edit: while i was writing this the other post with the orange tweet was made guess I was unfortunately right.

Hello I have an upcoming trip scheduled for senegal, flying in June 14. I will be staying outside of Dakar for most of it, in a village that I will be working. Is it still a good idea to come or is it too dangerous? I know it’s hard to say how the current political situation will develop but I would like to hear some thoughts. Thank you

Bonjour,

Est ce que vous connaissez une application pour apprendre le wolof (type Duolingo ou Babbel) ?

Jërëjef

i just wanted to share these as not everyone can afford to buy a VPN & some of them may not work so it could prove to be an expensive mistake. there also may be security concerns for those who believe their purchases may be monitored.

if you want to share one of these apps with someone who has a phone that could use it but may not have enough data to download it, you can do that with someone in person: get the apk (an installation file) then send it to their device using bluetooth.

feel free to ask questions for more help or report back if this is working or not for you, even if i can't help maybe someone else who sees it can.

lastly...anyone wanna translate this to Wolof? 😅

• orbot is a free app that hides all the internet traffic on your phone, so you should be able to use most apps. i saw at least one person say they were able to get online with it
• opera browser has a mobile version with a free vpn, but you have to specifically turn it on so make sure to check that it's activated.
• briar is a messenger that can use wifi, data, or bluetooth to send messages to anyone else with the app by automatically trying whichever connection works, this can be useful if only one of these options is functioning where you are.

What is currently happening in our country is a fucking disaster. The government is, by any means necessary, cutting every channels for accessing informations. People can’t anymore download VPNs or applestore or playstore. Please those who are out of the currently keep relating the news. We’re in a dictatorship now.

First image: a list of VPN’s that you can use. Second image: what to do when a VPN is not working/not an option.

“If they cut the internet, these are the options: Bridgefy: you can use without internet, using Bluetooth. FireChat: it uses a mesh size network to exchange messages without the use of internet. Signal Offline Messenger: via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi without an internet connection.”

FreeSenegal

Hi guys, I'm a European traveller and currently staying in Dakar. Can you recommend me any Senegalese media outlets, blogs or social media groups that I can use to stay up to date about the current situation. Preferably English speaking but I'm capable of putting french into a translation program as well^{^}