A video circulating on social media and television footage show a female lawmaker getting slapped by her male colleague in Senegal’s parliament on Thursday, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.
Opposition member of parliament Massata Samb walked over and slapped Amy Ndiaye Gniby of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition, setting off a flurry of scuffles during a budget presentation.
Gniby threw a chair back at Samb before another lawmaker tackled her to the floor. The session was suspended but the incident sparked debate about violence against women.
This comes amid growing tension between ruling and opposition party politicians, since the ruling party has lost its majority in July due to concerns that President Macky Sall will seek a third term in 2024. The opposition argues that such a move would be in breach of term limits and of an earlier promise, while his supporters believe constitutional reform reset the clock, allowing him to run again.
Samb on Thursday was addressing the assembly about comments Gniby made over the weekend in which she criticized a spiritual leader opposed to a third Sall term. Gniby scoffed at his remarks and declared she did not care, after which Samb walked over and hit her.
This isn’t the first incident of its kind, as another scuffle took place in the parliament in Senegal back in September when lawmakers fought over leadership of the house.
