logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
12m 26s

Can Senegal’s democracy hang on?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Senegal has a reputation as being a beacon of stability in West Africa. Even (whisper it) a bit boring when it comes to politics - but in the last few months all that has changed.

Senegal was supposed to hold a presidential election in February but that hasn’t happened and no new date has been set. Critics of the current president, Macky Sall, say they’re worried he’s trying to stay on for a third term - which is prohibited under the country’s constitution. Young protestors have been out on the streets, they don’t think they’re getting enough opportunities and are worried that if the chance to vote is taken away then nothing is going to change.

The BBC’s West Africa Correspondent Mayeni Jones helps us take a complicated situation back to basics and explains why what happens in Senegal might have big consequences for the entire region.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Simon Peeks

Up next
Today
How TikTok and streaming changed pop music
It’s a question artists have been racking their brains over for years: how long is the perfect pop song? The rise of streaming platforms meant that for a while, the answer was to keep it short and snappy, so listeners would be less likely to hit the skip button. After the launch ... Show More
12m 2s
Yesterday
Dead white people’s clothes: How Ghana is dealing with its textile waste crisis
Ghana has been described as the fashion industry’s dumping ground. Around 15 million second-hand garments arrive every week, making Ghana the world’s largest importer of used clothing. Many of the garments are re-sold and re-purposed at Kantamanto Market in the capital Accra. But ... Show More
14m 7s
Aug 22
ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online
In the UK, if you want to watch pornography or see content on sites like X, Reddit and Discord that is deemed only suitable for people over 18 years old, you now need to provide your identification to prove you are old enough to access this material. The UK government says its On ... Show More
11m 33s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
How did Senegal end up postponing elections?
Senegal has long had the reputation of being a bastion of democracy in Africa. It has been a stable democracy in a region that’s often been blighted by instability. In fact, it is the only country in mainland West Africa that has never had a military takeover. But a recent postpo ... Show More
19m 9s
Feb 2024
¿Cómo pasó Senegal de democracia estable a país en crisis?
Senegal había mantenido una situación política relativamente estable, hasta que la aparición de un líder político llamado Ousmane Sonko detonó un enorme movimiento social a su favor y una respuesta represiva por parte del gobierno. Por eso, hay centenares de presos políticos (inc ... Show More
20m 59s
Jun 2023
What’s behind the protests in Senegal?
* After this episode was recorded, mobile internet was reinstated in Senegal, although access to some social media platforms may still be restricted. Last week, protesters took to the streets in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison. T ... Show More
23m 43s
Feb 2024
What will it take to stop Senegal’s election protests?
Senegal’s President Macky Sall is coming under increasing pressure from West African leaders and the international community to reverse a decision to postpone the presidential election. He is accused of putting the country’s democratic path on to “a dead end”. We find out why som ... Show More
41m 30s
Mar 2021
Why are young Senegalese so angry?
Young Senegalese have had enough.They’re angry about the impact the pandemic has had on their pockets, but also at the way their president has been running the country.So, when a popular opposition leader was arrested and charged with rape, they went out and protested.They said t ... Show More
13m 7s
Apr 2023
Why are people taking to the streets in Senegal?
Today is Independence Day in Senegal, but not everybody is celebrating. The day is being snubbed by the Yewwi Askan Wi opposition coalition. Last week, opposition supporters staged protests ahead of the trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. On Sunday, he was found guilty of l ... Show More
14m 45s
Mar 2023
What’s behind the protests in Africa?
Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, called his supporters out onto the streets on Monday– leading to a day of unrest and clashes in the capital Nairobi. He says the protests will be weekly – to the dismay of many business owners. Odinga claims that the presidential election ... Show More
16m 41s
May 2023
What’s going to be on President Bola Tinubu’s list of priorities for Nigeria?
Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of the 2023 election back in March by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. It was an election marred by technical glitches in the electronic polling system, delays which saw some voters queuing through the night, some ... Show More
15m 10s
Jun 2021
What’s Nigeria’s beef with Twitter?
Twitter has been suspended in Nigeria after what could be described as a spat between the social media giant and president Buhari. It’s unclear for how long this suspension is going to last, but the government’s pretty mad: they say the platform is being used to destabilise the c ... Show More
14m 52s
Feb 2024
Un "coup d'État institutionnel": comment le Sénégal plonge dans la crise
 Le vote du report de la présidentielle sénégalaise n'est pas "légitime", dit Washington. Réaction des Etats Unis alors que le Sénégal est plongé dans une crise politique sans précédent depuis le samedi 3 février. Le président Macky Sall a décidé de repousser sine die le scrutin ... Show More
18m 32s