Bineta Diagne
30 June 2011
Dakar — A large contestation movement was born last week in Senegal: the movement of June 23. The movement regroups the “nation’s movers and shakers” who protested against a constitutional reform project. Alongside the movement, the youths seem determined to protect the institutions of the Republic. A number of them are associated with the activist movement, ‘Y en a marre’ (Enough is enough).
Thiat, Fou Malade and Kilifa are three popular rappers living in the Dakar suburbs. Their black t-shirts read: “Y en a marre” in capital letters. In their press conferences, they first request the audience stand up and sing the national anthem…
Since its creation last January, this self-proclaimed non-political movement claims to stand as a “guardian of democracy” and advocate the respect of civil rights. Numerous youths, both in Dakar and in the suburbs, relate to the movement and its mission.
Last week, they came out in masses on the capital’s streets to march against a proposed constitutional reform. “The Senegalese people have demonstrated that leaders who are elected must respect the constitution”, says 20-years-old student, Khadim Gning.
Anti-democratic
On June 23, outside the National Assembly, it was indeed average Senegalese citizens who answered the call by civil society: they were students, executives and heads of families. “I came as a concerned citizen to say no to this abuse of authority”, says Almamy Manga, newspaper in hand. “It is not right for a president to be elected with only 25% of the votes: it’s anti-democratic”, he revolts.
The June 23 protest was a victory for the youth, proof that it is still possible to fight against constitutional “tampering”.
Y en marre
However, ‘Y en a marre’ is calling for vigilance. Every week, the rappers go out in the streets of Dailfort, Pikine and Guediawaye to sensitise young people about the need to vote and to encourage them to register on voters lists.
“Our priority is to continue the information campaign we started on 16 February known as ‘Daas Fananal’ or ‘My card, My soul’. The campaign aims to register as many youths as possible”, explains Cheikh Fadel Barro, a journalist and coordinator of the ‘Y en a marre’ movement.
Conscious and intelligent
He adds: “Today, there are close to 1.3 million youths eligible to vote without voting registration cards. In the last census that we conducted, approximately 28,000 of them were registered. Therefore a lot remains to be done”.
The constitutional watch movement is calling to a “conscious and intelligent revolution” through voter registration.
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