Senegal: fight between deputies after remarks on a religious leader

A fight between deputies broke out Thursday in the Senegalese Parliament after controversial remarks by an elected official about a religious leader who is a member of the opposition, according to images authenticated by AFP.

An opposition deputy first slapped this parliamentarian, Amy Ndiaye, who retaliated by throwing a chair at her, before falling to the ground and being rescued by her supporters, according to images broadcast on several television channels and social networks.

Parliamentarians then exchanged punches in the crush. This scene, widely shared on social networks, took place during the vote on the budget of the Ministry of Justice for 2023.

Tension has increased in recent days in the National Assembly following controversial remarks made on November 27 by a government deputy on a Muslim religious leader, member of the opposition coalition, Serigne Moustapha Sy, who is not a deputy but is very influential in Senegal.

Amy Ndiaye is accused by the opposition of having disrespected this marabout during an intervention in the Assembly, accusing him in particular of not keeping his word and of disrespecting President Macky Sall, according to comments disseminated by the media.

“Thursday’s session was interrupted after the incident,” said a National Assembly official.