Oumar Cyrille Touré was released after about 24 hours in police custody, following remarks he made at a rally criticising President Wade's bid to run for a third term in office.
(MFWA/IFEX) – Oumar Cyrille Touré, a prominent Senegalese musician who recently criticized President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid to run for a third term in office, was on July 26, 2011 released after about 24 hours in police custody.
The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent in Senegal reported that Touré was released on condition that he remained within the jurisdiction.
Touré, popularly known as “Thiat”, was arrested on July 25, two days after he addressed a rally of the “June 23 Movement”, a coalition of civil society and political parties opposing President Wade’s bid to run in the 2012 election, for what would be his third term.
The correspondent said Touré, who fiercely criticized President Wade at the rally held at Obélisque Square in Dakar said: “An old person of 90 years, who tells lies, does not deserve to lead the country.”
President Wade has recently introduced high-handed measures to clamp down on citizens expressing themselves against his government. Riots were widespread in the country after he introduced a proposal to the country’s legislature seeking an amendment to the country’s Constitution. Critics of his administration said this was a ploy by President Wade to pave the way for his eldest son, Karim Wade, to succeed him.
