Senegal 2024: Democracy at stake
From America to Russia, South & West Africa, 2024 brings a lot of challenges. The first major election in the Africa, in Senegal, has already provoked a deep crisis. Here is why it's important.
Dear readers,
I hope this new post finds you well.
No ceasefire in Gaza, Terrible violence in the D.R. Congo and in Sudan. A vote postponed last minute from February to December in Senegal... Crisis in the Sahel. Coup attempt and political murder in Chad. The saddest anniversary, 30 years after the Rwandan genocide. The US campaign. Putin getting re-elected again (or what?). And major polls in South Africa as well, 30 years after the end of apartheid.
2024 is a complex year for the world, but especially for Africa.
This week at least brings some relief from Senegal.
The West African country’s President, Macky Sall, said on Wednesday evening that the delayed presidential elections will be held on 24 March, after the country's top court found it would be unconstitutional to hold the vote after his mandate expires on 2 April.
Confusingly, however, the Constitutional Council first overruled the government by choosing 31 March as the date. But now agrees to select the same date.
Can Senegalese voters now be sure they will be able to express themselves in a presidential election?
It seems so.
As some of you readers know, I was in Senegal the last part of February, and I met with hard-working people, sharing their views, analysis and insight.
Allow me to share some, between headlines full of American Super Tuesday and your own national political news.
Senegal, a beacon of democracy?
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I’m following the political situation in Senegal with a keen interest, first because it’s my duty in my job as a African news reporter, but also because it’s an important test for democracy in the region, which could inspire or influence many around the world.
The country, often considered as a “beam of democratic practices” in West Africa, has faced a lot of turmoil, protests and disagreements in the past two years, putting peace at risk.
This key presidential election had first been scheduled for 25 February.
But here is the latest twist: The President, Macky Sall, on Saturday 3 Feb., announced the postponement of the poll, just hours before official campaigning was due to start…
MPs voted to postpone the vote to mid-December, but opposition parties and civil society highly disagreed.
For four weeks, Senegal has faced the biggest democratic challenges in its history.
While Mali, Niger and Burkina are about to leave the regional West African group Ecowas and to form a military alliance, the region has to deal with the political turmoil in Senegal too...
Senegal sets date for delayed presidential election:
24 March
Senegalese President Macky Sall has said delayed presidential elections will be held on 24 March after the country's top court found it would be unconstitutional to hold the vote after his mandate expires on 2 April.
Issued on: 07/03/2024
The Council of Ministers announced the date chosen by the president on Wednesday, capping a dramatic evening that saw Sall dissolve the government and replace Prime Minister Amadou Ba with Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba.
The presidency said the move was intended to help Ba and the ruling coalition’s presidential candidate focus on the electoral campaign.
A few minutes after the election announcement, the Constitutional Council said the polls would be held a week later.
First, some signs of positive change:
Dakar's university reopens after months of closure following Sonko protests
Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar had been closed since last June as a result of protests following the arrest of political opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. It has slowly started reopening this week.
Issued on: 28/02/2024
Students are coming back to Cheikh Anta Diop University this Monday 26 February 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, as it slowly reopens after months with no in-person classes. © RFI/Melissa Chemam
The Academic Council of Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (CADU) decided on Saturday that face-to-face teaching could resume as of Monday, 26 February.
Students have responded - hundreds of them turned up to take classes in person after months of online teaching.
"We're very happy to be back", a young woman studying in the literature department told RFI English, "but we don't know if we will be able to graduate yet, or even to attend exams on time."
The past few days, I have been working on a story about youth unemployment and emigration, and how to support the young Senegalese men and women who might risk their life to leave for Europe…
As youth attempt to flee because of political and economic hardship, charities and educators are attempting to support them at home with training that fits their needs.
Here is the video version of this story:
Young people hit hard by Senegal's economic and political crises • RFI English
Article to come soon (keep going here).
Here is what the opposition in Dakar had to say about the campaign, and the president’s derailing it:
Senegalese civil society groups also called for mass mobilisation against election delay.
How Senegal's civil society is trying to break the political stalemate • RFI English
Here are a few articles to guide you into past events.
Senegalese lawmakers postpone presidential election to 15 December
Senegal's parliament voted to hold a postponed presidential election on 15 December in the face of a public outcry over the decision by President Macky Sall to postpone the elections due later this month.
Issued on: 06/02/2024
Senegal president calls off February 25 election
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Saturday announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25, just hours before official campaigning was due to start.
Issued on: 03/02/2024
Link to read out stroy from RFI English: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20240203-senegal-president-calls-off-february-25-election
Senegal's opposition denounces 'constitutional coup' after election postponement
Senegal's opposition Tuesday denounced a "constitutional coup" after parliament voted to delay the presidential election by 10 months, plunging the country into its worst crisis in decades.
Issued on: 07/02/2024
"The situation is completely catastrophic, Senegal's image is ruined, and I don't think we'll be recovering from this democratic bankruptcy, this tsunami in the rule of law, any time soon," opposition deputy Ayib Daffe said after the vote.
"We are all devastated. It's a blow to Senegalese democracy," said Pape Djibril Fall, one of the 20 candidates who had been in the running for the presidency.
Aliou Mamadou Dia, another candidate, reiterated the phrase "constitutional coup": "They have taken the country hostage," he fumed.
A supporter of Prime minister Amadou Ba, the former director of the 'Futurs Medias' group Mamoudou Ibra Kane told RFI that even Ba is frustrated, and feels that the president wants to "hang to power".
Kane even called Macky Sall to quit.
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) says it is extremely concerned about the latest development:
Elected members of parliament were meeting this Monday to vote on the postponement of presidential elections announced by President Macky Sall.
The unexpected decision has also plunged the country into crisis and led to violent protests, launched on Sunday.
In such a busy election year, this could be a test for many other countries in Africa and beyond.
But of course, my purpose is to get readers to hear and read more about news from outside the western world.
If you want to end on a positive note, here is a love story from Senegal:
If you’re in Bristol, don’t forget you can see this film at Watershed, and listen to a Q&A with the filmmaker on 13 March at Watershed: https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/12465/preview-banel-adama
Thanks for reading as always.
I wish you a great end of the week,
melissa
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Melissa Chemam
Journalist @ RFI English
Music/Art Writer @ New Arab, ART UK...
Site: https://sites.google.com/view/melissachemam
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaontheroad
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