Rival rebel factions clash in Senegal
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Rival factions among Senegal’s former rebels have been fighting for
the last two weeks in the southern Casamance region near the border
with Gambia, military sources said Monday.
Former members of the
Movement of Casamance Democratic Forces (MFDC) had been fighting near
Ziguinchor, the main town in the Casamance region, said a source close
to the army there.
"Some village populations in this zone have taken refuge in neighbouring Gambia for their own safety," he said.
The Senegalese army itself had not been involved in the fighting, he added.
Sources
close to the factions involved confirmed the fighting and said there
had been dead and wounded on both sides, without giving details.
The
violence appears to be between the supporters of Salif Sadio on one
side, and of Cesar Atoute Badiate and Antoine Diamacoune on the other.
Sadio reportedly opposed the December 2004 peace deal that was supposed to have ended the MFDC’s separatist struggle.
MFDC secretary general Jean-Marie François Biagui denounced the fighting in an interview Monday.
The
southern part of Senegal was for years the scene of insurgency by the
separatist Movement of Casamance Democratic Forces (MFDC), fighting for
the independence of the agriculturally rich Casamance region.
The
rebels signed a peace accord with Dakar in December 2004, but there
have since been occasional clashes involving either MFDC dissidents or
former rebels who have turned to banditry.
Ziguinchor is situated
about 480 kilometres (300 miles) south of Dakar. The Casamance region
is largely geographically separated from the north of Senegal by
Gambia, a former British-ruled enclave in French West Africa.
Civilians Flee Renewed Violence in Northern Senegal
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar 14 May 2007 |
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Civilians from the northern Casamance Local He has spoken with many people who are fleeing because they say the situation is too dangerous. "I just spoke to a woman who just came from Balaye, she said that He says many people seem scared and exhausted, and will have to make long journeys to find safety. "The lady I spoke to was quite helpless, because I just saw her with Robert Reeve, an analyst at the British research organization "There are about 6,000 Senegalese refugees from Casamance in Gambia According to Rebels have been fighting for more autonomy in Casamance which Main rebel leaders signed a peace accord with Senegal’s government The recent killings of several Senegalese government officials in the Casamance region remain unsolved.
region of Senegal are being displaced again, following renewed fighting
between rebel groups. Hundreds of people are reported to have fled to
the nearby Gambian border region to find safety. Selah Hennessy reports
from the VOA West Africa bureau in Dakar.
Senegal
journalist Alpha Jallow has seen hundreds of villagers from northern
Casamance fleeing the region during the past few days. He says they are
going to the Gambian border region, where they hope to find protection
with the Red Cross or with family members already living in villages
there.
there are still firing gunshot fire, they are hearing sporadic gunshot
fire everywhere and because they know the situation is quite dangerous
they decided to flee," said Alpha Jallow.
her two children and then she was quite tired, quite disfigured,
because she said she has to walk for a very long distance before she
can get transport that will bring her to Bidgornam," he said. "She also
said that in Bidgorna she is going to stay with family members until
things calm down."
Chatham House, says going to the Gambia is a common destination for
displaced civilians from the Casamance region.
most of the time, but you get a few thousand more coming and going from
the northern area which has been the most active combat zone for the
past year or so," said Robert Reeve.
Jallow, the local journalist, rebel factions are competing for
territory in the region. He says an alliance of rebel groups are
fighting the hard-line wing of the Movement for Democratic Forces in
the Casamance, led by Salif Sadio. The breakaway rebel factions claim
Sadio’s group is terrorizing the local population and taking over local
business.
borders both the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, since the early 1980’s, but
there have been increasing splits within their movement.
in 2004, but fighting never completely ended. Some rebels never agreed
to the talks.
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Senegal goes to polls without major opposition
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
afrol News, 15 May - Senegalese
voters are expected to return to the polls to elect their lawmakers on
3 June. But the polls will go on without the country’s major opposition
parties who are still crying foul over the conduct of the 25 February
Presidential polls, which ushered in the incumbent President Abdoulaye
Wade to power with over 55 percent of the valid votes.
Parties
of the Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, have
been campaigning for boycott of the polls. Mr Seck, the former Prime
Minister, ranked second in the Presidential polls while Mr Dieng who
heads the former ruling Parti Socialiste third.
While the core of the opposition complained of voter irregularities
during the last President polls, international observers maintained
that they were free and fair.
Official campaign for the June elections kicked off at the weekend. But
it is still unclear whether the elections will take place as planned
because the boycotting opposition filed an official complaint with the
State Council.
Opposition parties said Mr Wade’s failure to change the electoral
process – revision of voter list and creation of an independent
structure that replaces the electoral commission whose officials are
appointed by the President. They also campaigned for the sacking of
Ousmane Ngom, the Interior Minister.
Over 4,000 candidates, including those from 14 opposition parties are
fighting for 150 seats. The ruling party of Mr Wade is expected to
sweep the polls with an overwhelming majority. After casting his vote
on 25 February, President Wade told the press, “door dorat”, Wollof
words meaning “I will win and win”. He was confident of winning both
the Presidential and legislative elections.
Senegal is undoubtedly one of African countries endowed with several
years of uninterrupted democracy. Though it finds itself in a volatile
region, Senegal is yet to experience coups or countercoups.
By staff writer
© afrol News
Parties to boycott Senegal’s legislative poll
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar - Campaigning began on Sunday for Senegal’s upcoming legislative
election in a vote expected to be anticlimactic because main opposition
groups have pledged to boycott.
About 15 parties have announced plans to boycott the election over
President Abdoulaye Wade’s refusal to change the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have called for the voter list to be revised and the
creation of an independent structure to replace the
government-appointed electoral commission.
There is also a risk that the June 3 election will be postponed since
the Socialist Party, part of the opposition, has filed a complaint with
the State Council that could lead to their delay.
More than 4 000 candidates will vie for 150 seats, said Macoumba Koume, an official with the electoral commission.
On Sunday evening, messages from candidates from 14 parties and coalitions competing in the election were to be broadcast.
Among those who have said they would take part in the boycott are
Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, who came
second, third and fourth respectively in February’s presidential
elections, which Wade won with 55.9 percent of the vote. - Sapa-AFP
Campaigns begin in Senegal legislative election amid uncertainty
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Campaigning began on Sunday for Senegal’s upcoming legislative
election in a vote expected to be anticlimactic because main opposition
groups have pledged to boycott.
Some 15 parties have announced
plans to boycott the election over President Abdoulaye Wade’s refusal
to change the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have called
for the voter list to be revised and the creation of an independent
structure to replace the government-appointed electoral commission.
There
is also a risk that the June 3 election will be postponed since the
Socialist Party, part of the opposition, has filed a complaint with the
State Council that could lead to their delay.
More than 4,000 candidates will vie for 150 seats, said Macoumba Koume, an official with the electoral commission.
On Sunday evening, messages from candidates from 14 parties and coalitions competing in the election were to be broadcast.
Among
those who have said they would take part in the boycott are Idrissa
Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, who came second, third
and fourth respectively in February’s presidential elections, which
Wade won with 55.9 percent of the vote.
Senegal erects multi-million dollar press house
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
afrol News, 11 May - Macky
Sall, the Senegalese Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a
multi-million dollar press house for the country’s media fraternity.
The
six-storey building project equipped with the latest technological
devices is expected to complete in 18 months time. It cost the
Senegalese government CFA 5 billions to erect the edifice. It will be
erected in the former city of police in the capital, Dakar.
Senegal is among few African countries that give yearly subvention to
their media. Since he came to power in 2000, President Wade has twice
increased the annual press subvention from CFA 100, 200 and now 400
millions.
The Senegalese Prime Minister viewed the project as booster for press
freedom in one of Africa’s biggest democracies. He said it has proven
President Wade’s commitment to developing freedom of the press and
expression in the country.
Mr Sall admitted the existence of sporadic frictions between the
government and media. He however said a strong press is needed to
stimulate democracy in the country. “This is why we want the press to
enjoy freedom so that along the way, people become educated,” he said.
He believed the edifice will serve as an important venue for fruitful
exchange of knowledge and experience among journalists and
communication experts in Africa as a whole.
During his opposition days, President Wade had set up some political
publications in Senegal. The papers included Le Democrate, Le Citoyen,
Takussan and Sopi, which was created in 1988. However, all these papers
have now gone into extinction.
Dr Bacar Dia, the Minister of Information said the structure will no doubt turn “our press more modern, free and independent.”
The Chairman of Walfadjri Group, Sidy Lamine Niasse, who spoke on
behalf of the journalism fraternity, commended President Wade for the
magnificent project. He also dispelled the widely believed notion that
the media has reduced itself as opposition mouthpiece. “That’s not the
case,” Mr Niasse said.
By Musa Saidykhan
© afrol News
Multi-million dalasis boost for Senegalese media
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Pape Noel Fall, From Dakar
The
Senegalese Prime Minister, Macky Sall, yesterday laid the
foundation stone for a Press House for the Senegalese media.
The Press House will cost five billion CFA (about two
hundred and sixty million dalasis) to complete.
It is a
six-storey building to be equipped with the latest
Information Technology gadgets. The building will take 18
months to complete, and it will be built in the former City
of the Police in front of the sea in Medina. In all, the
Press House will cost the Senegalese government billion
billion and 400 million CFA (Two hundred and eighty-one
million dalasis).
Mr Sall
said: "I am very happy to be here today on behalf of his
Excellency Maitre Abdoulaye Wade. This project is an
important one, which shows the vision of President Wade for
the press of his country. This is progress and a path to
consolidate and to strengthen press freedom in Senegal."
He
added: "Our relations are from time to time very difficult
with media practitioners but a strong press is a need for a
vibrant democracy. That’s why we want in our country a free
and political press in order to educate people".
The
Senegalese Prime Minister emphasised that his wish was to
improve the relationship between the state and press
fraternity. "I hope that this infrastructure will be an
important gathering for fruitful exchange between
journalists and communication professionals in Africa," he
declared.
Mr Sall
traced Maitre Wade’s good relationship with the press to his
days as the leader of the Senegalese opposition, saying that
he set up a newspaper called Le Democrate, Le Citoyen,
Takussan and in 1988 Sopi when he was the leader of the
Senegalese opposition.
For his
part, the Information Minister, Dr Bacar Dia, commended
President Abdoulaye Wade for his gesture. "This building
will make our press more modern, free and independent," he
said.
On
behalf of the Senegalese press proprietors, Sidy Lamine
Niasse, the chairman of Walfadjri Group, thanked President
Wade for the gesture and added that the press is not a
mouthpiece of the opposition, as it is commonly misconstrued
by the ruling party.
Senegal’s independent media receive every year the sum of
twenty-one million dalasis from the government, but this has
even been increased since Wade came to power in 2001. It is
now 400 million CFA, not 100 million CFA.
French Election Attracts Interest in Senegal
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar 06 May 2007 |
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Interest Voting also took place in Dakar, where there are thousands of French With a distinct choice of candidates in the final round of the Senegalese-born Royal was the top vote getter in Senegal in the An important issue for many voters is immigration. Sarkozy, who has A lawyer, Samir Ftouhi, says Mr. Sarkozy will not be good for a multi-cultural France. "He is not good for a social, political and a multi-confessional France,” said Ftouhi, One woman waiting to vote says she thinks it will be good for France to have a female president. "I think that it will be really great to have women running all countries," she said. "They will not fight like those men." But she thinks that Senegalese men would not vote for a female president here. "I think that if it was in Senegal, men would not vote for a woman," Georges Ghora, who has been living in Dakar for 12 years, was one of "I believe that according to the situation, the actual situation in Both candidates have said they may make radical changes to the
Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal
is high in Senegal for the French presidential election, where one the
two candidates, Segolene Royal, was born. Selah Hennessy reports from
Dakar that controversial immigration policies by her opponent Nicolas
Sarkozy have also stirred a debate.
citizens and dual nationals. About 10,000 people were registered to
vote in the French election.
French election, the conservative Sarkozy and the socialist Royal, the
election has been a hotly debated issue in the former French colony.
first round, with more than 40 percent of the votes. Most voters
returning to the polling station on Sunday say they will vote for her
again.
put national identity at the center of his campaign, has called for
tighter rules on immigration.
she said. "In this case they are just thinking who is good for Africa
and who is not."
the few voters who said he supported the conservative candidate. He
says France needs a strong president like Sarkozy who can keep France
united.
France, we would rather go for a president who is strong, who can hold
tightly the French community and the republic," said Ghora.
policies of France in Africa. Currently, French troops are being used
as rapid reaction forces in several conflicts on the continent, in
divided Ivory Coast, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
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Frequent strikes torments Senegal leader
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
afrol News, 3 May - Senegal
is among the few African countries where citizens have been allowed to
enjoy their democratic rights to protest against government policies,
deteriorating working conditions and price hikes among others.
It is however apparent that the authorities are fed up with daily strikes, which take great toll on economic development.
The country’s leader, Abdoulaye Wade, is also among those who raise
eyebrows on strikes. He has called on unionists to observe three years
of no industrial action.
President Wade’s came after leaders of the 18 major union organisations
bombarded his government with series of complaints on May Day
celebrations.
Mr Wade admitted that the right to industrial strike is guaranteed by
the Senegalese constitution, he however wondered why it has been abused
by some unionists who turned it into national sport.
The Senegalese leader wants a new Senegal where strikes do not hinder learning, weaken companies or the economy.
“We want to have a period during which students will not arrive in
empty classes, lecturers return home without teaching or employers
confronted with empty machines without having anybody to operate them,”
President Wade said.
Until 27 January this year – when riot police tear gassed and beat
opposition supporters for demonstrating against the postponement of
legislative elections for the second time -the Wade government had been
tolerant to strikes by its opponents.
Strikes have almost paralysed some schools, with teachers refusing to
teach, in protest against the government’s failure to meet their
demands, which includes salary increase.
By staff writer
© afrol News
Media Watchdog Group says West Africa Has Seen Gains and Losses in Press Freedom
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Washington 03 May 2007 |
De Capua interview on press freedoms mp3
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De Capua interview on press freedoms ra
Thursday, May 3rd, is World Press “It’s a bit mixed. The media Foundation for West Africa is a Quarcoopome outlines the good and the bad. “I think that the level “And then, of course, The Gambia, which sticks out like a sore Of the importance of having a free press in West Africa, Quarcoopome
Freedom Day. For a look at the status of the media in West Africa, VOA
English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua contacted the Media
Foundation of West Africa in Accra. And spoke to Janette Quarcoopome,
the organization’s program officer, about the quality of journalism in
the region.
regional press freedom advocacy organization. So in that regard we have
a general idea of the situation of the media and press freedom in the
sub-region of West Africa. And I’m saying it’s mixed because of the 15
countries there have been plusses, but there have also been very major
setbacks in press freedom in the entire region,” she says.
of professionalism of the practice of journalism is fairly commendable,
particularly in countries like Ghana and Senegal, Benin and to some
extent, of course, Nigeria. So we do have plusses in that direction.
But in terms of the security and safety of journalists we have major
setbacks in Guinea, where there is practically no independent, private
media because the airways have been liberalized, in terms of
broadcasting, only as of last year. And even so, there’s practically
not a private radio station operating in Guinea.
thumb, in terms of the insecurity for journalists. It’s a head on
collision between the journalists and the government as it were. And
there’s a lot of persecution,” she says.
says, “I think that the examples in Ghana and in Senegal, particularly
during elections, shows that the role of the media is absolutely
critical in deepening democracy.”
