Senegalese politician and son of the former president, Karim Wade expressed extreme concern about the current situation in Senegal after days of riots and processions of drama stressing that everyone must realize that we risk being drawn into an impasse that can be fatal in Senegal.
“If I am speaking to you today, it is because I was the first politician to suffer from 2012, the consequences of the will of the current regime to eliminate all forms of opposition. Having been arbitrarily imprisoned for three years by instrumentalized justice and then exiled far from my family and my country, I am well placed to tell the President of the Republic Macky SALL and Ousmane SONKO that oppression and violence can only lead to chaos.”
Mr. Wade said he is shocked by these events which caused the death of sixteen young Senegalese, whose families are devastated
“I join my thoughts with those of all our compatriots to offer them my most heartfelt condolences. I also wish a speedy recovery for the hundreds of injured.”
“I understand the disarray, the despair of these young people, whose economic and social situation of them of all activity and all prospects for the future. I am appalled by the enormous damage inflicted on our economy, our infrastructure, and our social fabric, and by the rampage of universities, which has left thousands of students without access to education.”
He asked all those who are tempted by excesses to come to their senses. I am thinking in particular of the demonstrators whose violence and acts of vandalism only harm our country while calling on the security and defense forces to prohibit any unjustified use of force. “Violence is never a lasting solution.”
“My call is also addressed to the entire political class, which has the responsibility to prioritize respect for institutions, dialogue, and consultation. As the history of the PDS demonstrates, power is not taken by walking over corpses, 14 innocent victims in 2021, and 16 others today, it is unacceptable and unforgivable.”
Senegalese men and women have an ardent need “for stability, security, prosperity, and peace. We cannot meet their demands by pitting ourselves violently against each other, creating artificial divisions, and fanning the flames of discord.”
He added that they will not allow their Republic to crumble into artificial divisions and hopeless discord. “Our people will know how to pull themselves together. Unity, progress, and peace will win with freedom.”
“I would like, dear compatriots, to ask you to exercise restraint, wisdom, and mutual respect. We are a great, proud people, united by a rich culture, sharing a common history. We have all the potential that will allow us to achieve great things. But we need to know how to stay together in unity, solidarity, respect for the rule of law and democracy.”
