The call for mass mobilization comes as major political unrest continues in the normally stable West African nation.
A coalition of Senegalese civil society groups on Thursday called for a mass mobilization against the delay of this month's presidential election, outlining a series of planned actions including a protest and a strike.
The normally stable West African nation has plunged into its worst political turmoil in decades after lawmakers backed President Macky Sall's decision to postpone February 25 elections until mid-December.
“We invite all citizens concerned about the preservation of democratic achievements to mobilize massively throughout the country and in the diaspora to prevent this seizure of power,” the newly formed Aar Sunu Election (Protect our elections) platform said in a statement.
The collective includes about 40 citizen, religious and professional groups, including several education unions.
“A big demonstration is planned for Tuesday,” Malick Diop, who described himself as one of the platform's coordinators, told reporters in Dakar.
Speakers at the event also mentioned a call for a general strike on an unspecified date and a strike in the education sector starting Friday.
The platform asked Muslims to attend Friday prayers dressed in white and wearing the national colors.
The call comes as West African foreign ministers hold emergency talks in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to discuss the political crisis in Senegal.
Ahead of Thursday's meeting, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged Senegal – one of its most stable member states – to return to its electoral calendar. But critics have already questioned the group's influence over increasingly defiant member states.
