This video, recorded in the USA in March 2011, says about itself:
Inspired by the demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt and Wisconsin, about one hundred Senegalese workers living in Harlem marched in protest of the blatant corruption of the government and miserable, declining quality of life for workers in Dakar.
The President of Senegal recently spent $400 million of “public” money on a private jet while Dakar has no electricity for four hours a day. The jet formerly belonged to French president Sarkozy, who upgraded to a newer jet himself.
From daily The Morning Star in Britain:
Police attack Senegal protesters
Thursday 23 June 2011
Senegalese police lobbed tear gas at thousands of protesters who massed in Dakar today to oppose proposed changes to the constitution that critics said would benefit the longtime president and his family.
Clouds of tear gas enveloped the square in front of the country’s parliament, where MPs gathered to deliberate the proposals.
They included creating the post of vice-president and lowering the percentage of votes required for a candidate to win office.
The protest marks the biggest challenge yet to President Abdoulaye Wade, who is attempting to run for a third term at the age of 85.
If he succeeds in securing a third term he would be ruling into his 90s.
After protesters succeeded in shutting down Dakar’s central business district, setting fire to cars and pelting police with bricks and stones, Mr Wade’s spokesman went on the radio to say that the ruling party was abandoning the percentage clause.
See also here.
Photos are here.
Prominent Senegalese rapper Omar Toure, who is a vocal critic of President Abdoulaye Wade, has been arrested: here.
What exactly are the Senegalese people protesting ahead of the Feb 26 presidential election? Here.
Women in Senegal Promote End to Female Genital Mutilation: here.
Authorities in The Gambia late Tuesday released a Guinean anthropology student who had been arrested two months ago for “spreading revolutionary ideas” and threatening national security: here.
The struggle for freedom of expression in the new Egypt. @SalilShetty reports: here.
Germany has told Greek MPs to vote for cuts and privatisations this week – or else: here.
United States: Austerity fuels fresh protests: here.
Don Tapscott: Will Youth Unemployment Demonstrations Come to America? Here.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 
Ghana: Palm oil workers demonstrate
Workers at the Ghana Oil Plantation at Kwaye in the Eastern region held a demonstration on Monday against their poor working conditions. Presenting a petition to the company’s assistant manager, they declared a sit-down strike until their demands are addressed.
The workers’ union had been negotiating with the company for 18 months to no avail. Amongst the workers’ concerns are the conditions of contract workers, lack of medical equipment and the dilapidated state of the company’s school for the workers’ children.
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Ugandan teachers threaten strike action over pay arrears
Secondary school teachers in Mbale district threatened strike action over non-payment of their salaries. The teachers have not been paid their May salaries yet by the district local government even though the Ministry of Finance says the monies have been released.
One of the teachers’ leaders explained, “We have waited, appealed and there is nothing … The high cost of living has made life difficult. We are in debt.”
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Swaziland: Unions plan further protests against government
Unions in Swaziland were due to launch protests this week against the government, opposing proposed cuts in wages and calling for regime change.
There were big protest demonstrations earlier in the year. Swaziland is ruled by an autocratic monarch enjoying a lavish lifestyle, while 40 percent of the population are unemployed and 70 percent live on less than $1 a day. Political parties are not allowed.
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers president explained, “We want this government to vacate office … we want regime change … the system itself is flawed … so much money is being lost to corruption.”
The country suffered a sharp drop in revenue from the Southern African Customs Union and in April its deficit rose to 14.3 percent of GDP.
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Kenyan dock workers strike postponed
The Dock Workers Union’s proposed strike due to begin this week against Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has been put back by a week. The union gave 21 days notice on May 26 for the strike.
The strike was to protest against casualization. Around 350 dock workers have worked as casuals for 15 years, while more than 2,000 have been working as casual workers for the last three years. The country’s Labour Relations Act stipulates that workers should be given permanent status after six months.
Workers have been further angered by reports that the KPA plans restructuring, which they fear will lead to job losses. The union chairman arrogantly defended the postponement of the strike, saying, “We decided to extend the strike date by seven days to allow us to educate the workers on what will be required of them.”
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Junta scuppering hopes for election
Egypt: Amnesty International secretary-general Salil Shetty criticised the country’s military rulers during a visit to Cairo on Saturday.
The junta who took control following the removal of dictator Hosni Mubarak have refused to scrap repressive laws including a ban on strikes.
Mr Shetty said the legislation creates “an atmosphere of distrust which is likely to seriously affect preparations for elections” scheduled for September.
Thousands have been jailed since the regime change.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/106288
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Thousands call for president to go
Senegal: Thousands of opposition protesters poured into central Dakar today to call for the president’s resignation after a last-minute change to the venue to skirt a government ban on demonstrations.
They gathered at Place de l’Obelisque to demand that 85-year-old President Abdoulaye Wade step down.
The constitution only allows a president to serve for two terms, and Mr Wade has sparked anger by insisting the electoral code allows him to run for a third term in 2012.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/107410
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Wade outlaws opposition rally
SENEGAL: The ruling party of President Abdoulaye Wade outlawed all political demonstrations today to forestall plans by the country’s opposition to hold huge rally.
The opposition had been planning a rally tomorrow to call for President Wade’s resignation.
Frustration has been mounting because of frequent power cuts and rising costs.
There is also growing discontent over the 85-year-old president’s attempt to run for a third term next year.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/109823
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