Rédaction Africa Links 24 with pierre Dieme
Published on 2024-03-20 23:45:36
Moussa Bocar Thiam’s criticism of the Wolofs in Ourossogui who would vote against Amadou Ba could harm his candidate. Some members of his campaign directorate have this fear. And because there have been similar precedents, such as Wade’s threats in 2012 against the populations of Podor and Matam who would not vote for him. The vote of sanction was massive.
There are facts and gestures that can completely disrupt an election. Moussa Bocar Thiam’s statement is poorly received even in the camp of the Benno bokk yaakaar candidate. Even though he tried to clarify his words. During a meeting held in the municipality of Ourossogui, of which he is the mayor, the Minister of Communication attacked the traders and other workers who work in his municipality. In a statement made in Wolof, he said: “I am not addressing those who are on Amadou Ba’s side. But rather to my Wolof relatives, traders, carpenters, masons, who are in Ourossogui and who are determined to vote against Amadou Ba. You do not have the right to vote for someone other than Amadou Ba in this election. If you vote for the opposition, it is moving the locality backwards.” Indeed, since this communication, members of these trades have made vitriolic statements against the minister. This video, which has become viral because it is considered serious, has not left indifferent the campaign directorate of his candidate. Because precisely, beyond this seriousness, these statements can harm Amadou Ba. And looking back, there have been similar cases.
Abdoulaye Wade’s threats against Podor and Matam in the 2012 runoff
Abdoulaye Wade, cornered and weakened by his decision to seek a 3rd term against all odds, lost control in the 2012 runoff. On March 21, three days before the vote, facing Macky Sall, he threatened localities that would not vote in his favor. “I will no longer help people who do not vote for me. I have done a lot for Podor and Matam, if they want me to continue my projects, they must vote for me. The people of Matam and Podor must tell me if they want me to continue building infrastructure. Otherwise, I will give the projects to Macky Sall who has no program,” he declared at a meeting held in Tivaouane Peul, a locality in the Dakar region. The same Abdoulaye Wade also threatened to no longer invest in Casamance. So, these northern and southern localities saw it as blackmail. The result: he suffered a massive vote of sanction that contributed to his downfall.
Me Moussa Diop and Ilaa Touba
On the same evening of Macky Sall’s re-election in 2019, Me Moussa Diop, not satisfied with his candidate’s heavy defeat in Touba and the Mbacké department in general, could not hold back. “They think they are the center of the world here in Senegal. During the referendum, they did the same thing. They made Macky lose here (in Touba). They sabotaged the vote, destroyed everything, and we let them. President Macky Sall didn’t even appeal. Today, when I woke up, I had only one desire, to rent a bulldozer, remove Ila Touba (highway) and turn it into Ila Fouta,” he raged. This sparked a huge anger from the Mouride community and the general public. Many were demanding his dismissal as the General Director of Dakar Dem Dikk in vain. This statement only increased Macky Sall’s unpopularity in Touba.
Read the original article(French) on Dakar Matin
