Senegal, poster child for democracy?

This issue walks you through Senegalese politics (the recent oil and gas discoveries might have something to do with the recent election crisis there) and the aftermath of the deadly fires in central and northern Chile that killed 131 people (who's to blame and where to go from here). Plus, two peace processes in Colombia and Thailand (yes, even during these warmongering times), giant tortoises in Madagascar, a critical reading of Frantz Fanon, a Netflix recommendation about gentrification (the irony, I know), a former political prisoner who's earned his Bachelor's degree while in prison, a mini-doc about three blind women going bowling and why the Egyptian president was referred to as The Mexican long before U.S. President Joe Biden did.

Senegal's postponed its presidential elections, and hell broke loose

What happened:
Senegal was all set for presidential elections on February 25, but plot twist -- President Macky Sall hit the pause button, shifting it to December 15. This move didn't sit well with many, sparking protests across the country; some of which have turned violent, with one student killed in Saint-Louis. So far, the police has arrested at least 150 people.

Why this matters:
Senegal has a reputation of being one of Africa's most stable democracies, where leaders change without any fuss and there's never been a military takeover. Now, people are worried this good record might be in jeopardy.

Tell me more:
The decision to delay the election happened in Dakar, the capital city. Sall's party is part of a coalition, which has a tiny lead in the government, and as such managed to make this delay official. This means Sall gets to stay president longer than expected.

• Btw, the fact that Macky Sall was not able to seek a third term in office entirely, is due to the successful organizing of Senegalese youth, says Mamadou Diouf, professor at Columbia University, in this interview with Democracy Now.

But why delay the election?
Sall argues the delay is due to eligibility issues with some candidates, casting doubt on the Constitutional Council's transparency, especially regarding Karim Wade of PDS. Wade, son of ex-President Abdoulaye Wade, faced disqualification over dual citizenship. Some have called it a manufactured crisis that Sall has leaned into for a few more months in power. They say Sall might be anxious that his chosen successor --- current prime minister Amadou Ba --- would have lost the vote this month; therefore, losing his power altogether.

All of this for only a few extra months in power?!
Critics suggest Sall's maneuver is less about legality and more about clinging to power. Journalists Kiri Rupiah and Papa Ismaila Dieng from The Continent in the issue suggest we all follow the money. "Sall's action has a lot to do with the fact that Senegal is on the verge of becoming an oil and gas giant." Senegal's found a bunch of it in recent years, and it's going to make a lot of money. Whoever's in charge gets to decide what to do with that money. That's why there were a crazy number of people, 79 to be exact, wanting to be president. This has led to speculation that Sall is buying time to ensure a favorable successor, potentially securing his influence over Senegal's budding energy wealth.

What's the reaction been like so far?
Most opposition parties called it a "constitutional coup," except for one, PDS. Important religious figures are speaking up because they're worried this could shake things up in a bad way. Meanwhile, more folks are hitting the streets in protest, and the government's trying to keep things under control by cutting off internet access and putting restrictions on motorcycles during the day. "We are in a situation of total uncertainty," Alioune Tine, a human-rights activist in Senegal, told The Economist. "This jump into the unknown can have unexpected consequences---like the army taking power."

Fires in Chile killed 131 people and a former president died in a helicopter crash

What happened:

Forest fires across central and northern Chile on February 2 and 3 killed 131 people and left thousands homeless.

Why this matters:
It's the worst natural disaster the country has seen since a big earthquake and tsunami in 2010.

Tell me more:
President Boric declared a state of emergency by February 4 as cities like Viña del Mar and Valparaiso got hit hard, with the fires jumping from the forests right into people's backyards. La Tercera's Joaquin Barrientos has a visual of what went down. Boric also called for a couple of days of national mourning.

• Silver lining: The Botanical Garden of Viña del Mar reported the survival of the toromiro, a tree extinct in the wild.

So, why'd it happen?
Blame it on El Niño and our increasingly hot planet. Chile's been extra dry for a while, setting the stage for disaster. Plus, Santiago was hitting near record temps right before the fires broke out, turning the situation from bad to worse.

Details:
Research in the journal Nature is telling us that Chile's wildfire game has changed big time in the last decade, with 1.7 million hectares burned -- that's triple the size of Bali.

Why were there so many victims?
Viña del Mar...