Communiqué  Posté le 12:27 15-09-2022, modifié le 12:27 15-09-2022 par Tournons la Page

The Panafrican Concert for Term Limits, scheduled for Saturday, September 17, 2022, starting at 8:00 p.m., has not yet obtained the approval of the Prefecture of Dakar, which was requested 13 days ago. This delay is surprising, since it is contrary to the democratic tradition of the country and endangers the freedom of expression. With only two days to go before the concert, we fear a cancellation. This concert has already obtained the authorization of the Senegalese Society of Authors' Rights and Neighboring Rights (SODAV), which allows the delivery of a prefectural or municipal authorization.

The Citizens' Campaign for Term Limits is an initiative that aims to promote democracy and raise awareness on the issues of good governance and democratic alternation on the African continent. The third edition of this campaign will be inaugurated during a large pan-African concert, which will take place on September 17, 2022, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. Ten artists from 7 African countries have joined forces with Meiway, an Ivorian artist and composer, to create a song celebrating democracy.

The campaign team submitted a request for authorization of the concert to the prefecture of Dakar on September 2. To date, 13 days after the application was filed, we still do not have an authorization to hold this concert. This lack of response poses great difficulties at the logistical level, particularly concerning the arrangement of the hall and the sale of tickets.

Today, September 15, 2022, as we celebrate the International Day of Democracy, we fear that this concert will be cancelled. This would be very regrettable, especially for the artists who have been working for several months on the composition of the official song of this campaign. We hope that this is not a desire to censor the eleven artists who have committed themselves to this campaign, which would be contrary to the democratic tradition of the country and would send a negative signal from the Senegalese authorities to all activists committed to democracy and fundamental rights.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Press contact:

Moyra OBLITAS
moyra.oblitas@tournonslapage.org
+33 7 56 27 77 69