Tensions and Gendarmerie Intervention at the Senegalese National Assembly

The Senegalese National Assembly witnessed a tumultuous day with the controversial adoption of a bill that allows President Macky Sall to extend his term by six months, thereby postponing the presidential elections to December 15, 2024. The legislative debate was interrupted by the Assembly’s President, Amadou Mame Diop, who opted for a hand-raised vote, leading to vigorous contestation from the opposition. The situation degenerated into chaos, necessitating the intervention of the gendarmerie forces to restore order and forcibly evacuate opposition deputies. This action, marking the second intervention of its kind under this legislature, allowed for the unanimous adoption of the bill by the government’s deputies, highlighting the political tensions and division within the Senegalese parliament.