On the 4th of February 2024, the Senegalese President, without any prior notice of such announcement and no new date in sight, announced the postponement of the Presidential election scheduled to be held on the 25th of February (barely three weeks away). For a country that has witnessed a peaceful transition of power since its independence in 1960, the recent events leading up to the postponement of the Presidential elections have cast ‘dark clouds’ over the future of democracy in the country. 

The issue in Senegal continues to paint a grim picture of the democratic realities in West Africa, alongside the recent coups. The exclusion of candidates from the polls, violent crackdown of protesters, internet restrictions and finally this abrupt postponement adds salts to the open wounds already being experienced by citizens and civic actors. The blatant disregard to, among others, electoral rights of freedom to vote and be voted for violates regional and international laws as contained in Article 2 of the ECOWAS Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance Supplementary to the Protocol relating to the Mechanism For Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

Spaces for Change|S4C had issued warning signals through its Civil Outlook Video of more turbulent times for the democratic atmosphere in the country. Sadly but not surprisingly, we are seeing a precise chain of events being unveiled as predicted in our projections. 

We therefore call on President Macky Sall to retract his steps and tow the democratic lane. The elections should be allowed to be held according to the already published timeline or on a specific date, and the process should be made open for all candidates. We also urge the President to ensure that the people of Senegal are afforded the protection of their right to vote in the poll without fear, intimidation and oppression. 

We also call on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to rise to its regional duties and aid in the defence of democratic values in Senegal, as contained in its Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance Supplementary to the Protocol relating to the Mechanism For Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. The ECOWAS must not wait for a total breakdown of democracy and coups before it reacts; it must do what is required to ensure that democracy does not suffer any other loss in Senegal.