Senegal: “Y’en a marre” movement in bad shape

The electoral registration frenzy among Senegalese youth in districts across the country is a result of “Y’en a marre’s” awareness campaign. But “Y’en a Marre” (Enough is Enough), a group that massively campaigned for “citizenry”, is in big-big trouble.

Y’en a marre’s campaign record has been credited with the president’s initial failure to bag the constitutional reform of June 23 2011, which would have offered him a third term re-election bid on a silver platter.

But despite the strong mobilisation of the youth, who have largely remained a thorn in Abdoulaye Wade’s side, the movement has since been weakened despite its spread to an integral part of the country.

Since January 27 and the validation of Wade’s candidature, “Y’en a marre” has switched into resistance mode. Convinced of being spied on, they now rarely answer telephone calls, regularly change meeting venues, and discuss their political agenda in secret.

Nonetheless, their label as an “insurrectional group” stands out to the consensual discourse of the leaders. “The Senegalese hate violence, and they should know that we are also against it,” says Fadel Barro, one of the founders of the movement.

And while their opposition to Wade’s candidacy is beginning to suffer because of their limited resources, Y’en a marre’s relentless refusal to support any candidate in the opposition is biting them, hard. Its impact has substantially reduced as the country heads for the polls.

Y’en a Marre’s calls to meet at the Dakar’s Obelisque Square, Senegal’s version of Egypt’s Tahrir Square, has begun falling on deaf ears, as the youth seek another flag bearer in the political arena to represent them.

Also Read:

– Is Wade’s machinery still at full blast?

– Senegal: Paranoia and pandemonium for a third term?

– Senegal: President Wade is “preparing a surprise”

– Senegal: Wade battles outages as street refuses succession