EMBATTLED Senegalese President Macky Sall is coming under increasing pressure from African civil society groups following his government’s decision to postpone the presidential election that was scheduled for February 25.
Joining the list of Sall’s critics is the influential Pan-African Alliance for Transparency and the Rule of Law (Patrol-Africa), which said on Monday that it ‘expresses its deep concern at the situation prevailing in Senegal.’
A decree of November 29, 2023 had agreed the date for the election but this was repealed by another law on February 3 postponing the poll, and on February 5 this was rubber-stamped by the National Assembly, which gave a new date of December 15 this year for the election.
A statement by Patrol-Africa noted: ‘Whatever the reasons given by the Executive, there can be no justification for the decision to interrupt the electoral process.’
It pointed out that the new presidential election date was ‘extending the presidential term of office, which ends on April 2, 2024, and which cannot be extended without violating the Constitution’.
Patrol-Africa said this ‘is all the more worrying as Senegal has a well-established tradition and reputation as a haven of peace, democracy and stability on the continent’.
The statement went on: ‘Patrol-Africa is also deeply concerned by the violence observed since the postponement of the election.
‘It calls on government authorities, the political class and all stakeholders to refrain from further violence.
‘It urges the government to avoid any action likely to undermine national harmony, peace and stability.
‘It also calls on the security forces to exercise the utmost restraint, to respect the right of citizens to go about their business peacefully and to demonstrate peacefully.’
The organisation, made up of eminent African lawyers and legal scholars, called for ‘a free, fair and transparent election to be held as soon as possible, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
The statement said: ‘Furthermore, in order to ease political tension and restore normalcy, Patrol-Africa calls on leaders and the political class to respect the country’s democratic tradition and resolve their differences through dialogue, popular participation in decision-making and strict adherence to democratic principles in line with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Governance, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
‘In view of the above, Patrol-Africa, which works for good governance, respect for the rule of law and therefore for peace, calls on the authorities and institutions of the Republic of Senegal to restore constitutional legality, so that the nation can once again demonstrate the vivacity of its democracy, and to remain an example for its people and Africa,’ the statement added.