CHAUD TOO CHAUD
SENEGAL: Dizzying rise in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths
In Senegal, the staggering increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths has aggravated the health situation. The second wave of the coronavirus is particularly deadly in the country with a daily increase in confirmed cases that number in the hundreds.This has led to an increasing number of serious resuscitation cases. The Director of the National Samu, Mamadou Diarra Bèye described the situation as difficult.
Increased number of patients in resuscitation and contamination.
The number of coronavirus infections increased sharply in December and accelerated in early January. On Saturday, the country recorded a record 13 deaths in one day. The Director of the National Samu, Mamadou Diarra Bèye, who sounded the alarm, said that «the situation has become very difficult». “It is difficult for populations but also for caregivers. Simply because the number of cases is increasing day by day, on average about 100 cases a day and across the country. What is also noteworthy is the significant increase in Community cases. This shows the active circulation of the virus in the population,” he said before adding: “But beyond the serious cases treated in resuscitation, we have severe cases because these are in the Centers for Epidemics Treatment (CTE) and (since the home management started, asymptomatic cases or people who do not present major risks are managed in homes with follow-up), they require close management with the administration of oxygen and other medicines.Currently, there are nearly 300 inpatients.”
It should be noted that in some communities within the country there has been a shortfall of respirators. This has an impact on the management of serious cases and the number of deaths.
cepticism and mistrust among the population about vaccination
When it comes to vaccines, a large segment of the population, greatly influenced by conspiracy theories on social networks, is wary of anti-Covid vaccines. Distrust is heightened by reports of serious side effects on some vaccines. Dr Mamadou Ndiaye, Director of Prevention, tried to reassure on the issue. “People need to understand that these are normal effects compared to a vaccine, a drug or something else. You go to any local pharmacy, you buy a drug, you take out the package leaflet, we’ll explain everything to you. And we’ll put some undesirable effects on it sometimes. This means that there are a number of expected effects with respect to each molecule or product, each drug or pharmaceutical product, there are a number of expected effects that can be minor or even serious that can be listed. Once again, people understand the principle of a vaccine. It is to introduce something into the body to make it work. It is normal for the body to react a little. The reaction can be an allergy, a fever. So this vaccine is to reproduce, in a way, the effects that will stimulate immunity. Because you have to deceive the organism in a certain way, make it believe that there is something new that has entered and that must produce antibodies to fight against a possible disease.People need to understand it that way,” he said.
Faced with the increase in cases, the President of the Republic, Macky Sall, decreed Tuesday, January 05, 2021, a state of health emergency accompanied by a curfew between 21:00 and 5:00 in the morning in the regions of Dakar Thiès.
Divisions among MPs over state of emergency and state of siege bill
On Monday, 11 January, the National Assembly will examine the draft law on the state of emergency and the state of siege.This is a draft decree to be adapted to the health crisis that was not foreseen among the elements to justify the proclamation of the state of emergency or siege. So it’s the old order in council that moves to the correction.To the “Law No. 69-29 of 29 April 1969 on the state of emergency and the state of siege” is added the “Management of natural or health disasters” situations. But already, the majority and the opposition are divided. The deputy mayor of Diakhao and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Pope Birame Touré, believes that “no power is too much for Macky Sall.” The time is not for demagogy. It should be understood that this is a law that will allow the President of the Republic to take measures as he has always done and to be able to protect the Senegalese. There is no attempt to restrict freedoms without a valid reason for protecting the Senegalese,” he said.
His opposition colleague, the vice president of the law commission, Sheikh Abdou Bara Dolli Mbacké, to take his back foot. He is even organizing with the parliamentary opposition to attack the bill. “I have already registered 11 signatures, I want 17 so I can attack the bill before the Constitutional Council. The Senegalese Democratic Party has not yet signed, however negotiations will continue with this party. Whatever the situation, we will face the National Assembly and if necessary, attack it at the level of jurisdictions,” he said.
Please note that today’s plenary session will be held behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Malian music star Salif Keïta has been appointed advisor to the head of the junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta, says a decree issued Monday, August 14, 2023.
The artist is part of a list of five people named “special advisers” to the Malian head of state, says the decree dated August 11. The text does not specify the role of Salif Keïta.
The great name of afropop and World Music, Salif Keïta, 73, also stands out for his political commitment and, since the advent of the colonels following a putsch in 2020, for his support of the junta.
He was appointed one week after the announcement of his resignation from an assembly set up by the military as a legislative body.
“I will always remain the undisputed friend of the military of my country,” he said in his letter of resignation read in the gallery.
Mr. Keïta publicly expressed his support for the sovereignty discourse of the authorities. He openly called a few months ago for the departure of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA), since officially announced by the UN Security Council.
Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by jihadist expansion and a deep multidimensional crisis. Violence from the north has spread to central Burkina Faso and neighbouring Niger.
Senegalese investigative journalist Pape Alé Niang was arrested on 6 November at his home and taken into police custody. He is the director of the news site Dakar Matin critique du pouvoir in Senegal. Pape Alé Niang is a journalist famous for his regular chronicles of the news that Senegalese listen to.
Collateral damage on collateral damage! The «Sweat Beauty» case has not finished creating surprises. For this umpteenth arrest, it is around investigative journalist Pape Alé Niang to pay the costs, he was arrested on Sunday, November 6 and detained at the central police station of Dakar. He is accused of having an investigation report from the gendarmerie on the file between the pastef leader Ousmane Sonko and masseuse Adji Sarr. According to one of his lawyers, Mr Ciré Clédor Ly, the police arrested him on the orders of the Public Prosecutor.
In addition, a videographer from the Buur News website on behalf of Fatou Dione was the victim of “police violence” on Saturday, 5 November during a banned demonstration in Dakar. She “fainted when the police came to evacuate her with unprecedented brutality”. This demonstration was the initiative of a collective formed especially of activists. They demanded the release of “political detainees” most of whom are close to the opposition.
About 20 arrests took place during the demonstration and the arrested persons are still detained according to the local press.
Senegal is ranked 73rd out of 180 countries in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index compiled by the NGO Reporters Without Borders.
A LA UNE
IVORY COAST – Alpha Blondy supports Nathalie Yamb: “Nathalie Yamb is for us a calming factor that helps us rebuild”
It is through a video of more than five minutes that the international reggae artist Alpha Blondy spoke on his facebook page this Saturday, November 4, 2022. He ruled on France’s decision to ban Nathalie Yam on its territory because of her hostile ideas towards the metropolis, according to the French authorities. The Ivorian singer did not go there with half words: “In France there are people who despise us, who speak ill of Africans, who insult us with their insolence, their arrogance… They have the right, but why not Nathalie Yamb. It’s not fair! It’s worse than FrançAfrique. Get your act together, let’s get our act together; let’s not push people to make decisions like the Algerians do: “the suitcase or the coffin”. For us, Nathalie Yamb is a sedative that helps us rebuild! Africa needs it! This economic slavery, this slavery, has only lasted too long, it must stop! Mr. Macron, please correct the tire, please! Thank you. I’m Alpha Blondy.”
The transcript of his full message can be read here:
I would like to speak today about the sanction taken by the French government against my sister Nathalie Yamb. I find that unfair and illegal for a country like France where there is freedom of expression. Nathalie Yamb has the right as an African to defend her continent and her people, a people that needs to be rebuilt. Nathalie Yamb is among those who are rebuilding the African mentality that has been deconstructed for more than 5 centuries, I am not talking about Arab-Muslim slavery, so we are going towards 1200 years.
When Charlie Hebdo was a victim of what we all saw, you took steps to defend freedom of expression, so why doesn’t Nathalie have the right to defend her people, to help her people regain confidence in themselves, to have a little dignity, To call the heads of state to raise their heads even if they are victims of false blackmail.
She is right that Mali has the right to choose its friends. It is not up to France to dictate to French-speaking African countries which ones they must attend or not. Your history with Russia is none of our business, we don’t have to follow your lead. Mali is an African country and Nathalie Yamb is an African who speaks to Africans. When she criticizes Alassane Ouattara, it is her right as an African to speak to her African brother. When she criticizes Mr. Macky Sall, she also has the right to criticize…. Nathalie Yamb has the right to say what she says and you don’t have the right to forbid her to go to France, don’t push too hard. We need her words, it heals us! It heals our wounds. We must not gag her. She did not say to attack the embassies of France, she told the Africans that to take dignity, to take a thickness, she has the right to say that.
In France there are people who despise us, who speak ill of Africans, who insult us with their insolence, their arrogance… They have the right, but why not Nathalie Yamb. It’s not fair! I would like to ask Mr. Macron, you said that FrançAfrique is over, but what is this story about bagging Nathalie Yamb? It’s worse than FrançAfrique. Get your act together, get our act together! Let us not push people to make decisions like Algerians do: “the suitcase or the coffin”. For us, Nathalie Yamb is a sedative that helps us rebuild! Africa needs it! This economic slavery, this slavery, has only lasted too long, it must stop! Mr. Macron, please correct the tire, please! Thank you. I’m Alpha Blondy.
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