16-year-old becomes 3rd victim in political crisis in Senegal

In the aftermath of President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone Senegal’s presidential election, the nation is gripped by unprecedented unrest, marking one of its most significant crises since gaining independence from France in 1960.

The postponement has not only fueled widespread protests but has now claimed the lives of three young individuals, escalating tensions in a country known for its stability and democracy in West Africa.

The latest victim, Landing Camara, a 16-year-old also known as Diedhiou, succumbed to injuries sustained during clashes in Ziguinchor.

The southern city, a stronghold of jailed opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko, witnessed intense confrontations between youths and security forces throughout the day.

Camara tragically “took a projectile to the head and died of his injuries in intensive care,” according to a hospital source in Ziguinchor. The conflicting information regarding his age adds a layer of complexity to the already volatile situation, as the hospital source initially reported him as 19 years old.

Ziguinchor is not the sole battleground, as two other youths lost their lives in separate incidents. In Dakar, a 23-year-old was fatally shot “in the stomach with a live round,” while the circumstances surrounding the death of a 22-year-old on a university campus in Saint-Louis remain unclear, prompting an investigation by the Saint-Louis prosecutor’s office.

The international community, including the US Bureau of African Affairs, has expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The Bureau emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution, urging all parties to act with restraint. Calls for President Sall to reinstate the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and quell the rising unrest have echoed on social media.

President Sall justified the election postponement, citing a dispute between parliament and the Constitutional Council over potential candidates barred from running. Despite his commitment not to seek a third term, concerns persist both domestically and internationally. Senegal’s parliament supported the postponement, allowing Sall to remain in office until his successor assumes power, a scenario unlikely before early 2025.

As the nation grapples with grief and political uncertainty, campaigners from the Aar Sunu Election group (Protect our Election) have called for fresh protests on Tuesday, further underscoring the urgency for a resolution in Senegal’s deepening crisis.