Senegal/African intellectuals and civil society activists call on Macky Sall to “respect the sacredness of the democratic process” in Senegal

Gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, African intellectuals and civil society activists call on Macky Sall to “respect the sacredness of the democratic process” in Senegal. While expressing their "shock" and their "deep disgust" after the scene which took place in the Senegalese national assembly last Tuesday (the opposition deputies forcibly removed by gendarmes to allow those of the majority to 'endorse the postponement of the presidential elections),they urge the Senegalese people to “maintain their stubborn struggle” for the preservation of democracy. 

PRESS RELEASE

We, African intellectuals and civil society activists gathered in Abuja on February 7, 2024, would like to express our shock and deep disgust at the use of gendarmes to physically expel opposition parliamentarians from the National Assembly last night , with a view tothe adoption of an unconstitutional bill extending the mandate of President Macky Sall for a third term and postponing the presidential elections which were scheduled for February 25, 2024. This act constitutes a flagrant violation of the rule of law and the democratic rights of the Senegalese people. It is also a violation of the Charter of the African Union, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, to which Senegal has acceded. and integrated into its domestic law. We therefore urge the Senegalese government to respect the sacredness of the democratic process. 

We followed with keen interest the determination of the Senegalese people to block all attempts by President Macky Sall to obtain a third mandate as well as his announcement not to seek such an illegal mandate, categorically prohibited by the Constitution of Senegal. It is now clear that his public statement was just a ruse to deceive the people and pursue his megalomaniac ambition to prolong his rule. 

It is for this reason that he has deployed the police to brutally stop all protests, cut off the Internet and continue to use the judicial system to imprison and intimidate anyone who opposes his ambition to continue to govern by extra-constitutional means . 

President Sall is venturing to lead Senegal down the path of political instability, anarchy and civil unrest, and all democratic forces in Africa and the world should converge in a united struggle to stop this drift and maintain Senegal in itsdemocratic tradition. 

We call on the Senegalese people to maintain their stubborn struggle for the preservation of democracy. This is a common struggle for all Africans and democratic forces;

We call on ECOWAS, the AU and the UN to openly declare that the actions of President Sall and the villainous legislators who supported his unconstitutional bill are unconstitutional, while demanding an immediate return to constitutional order and on the calendarplanned election. 

Constitutionalism and timely elections are the foundations of democracy that must be preserved. 

Have signed this declaration:

Prof Adele Jinadu

Prof Adebayo Olukoshi

Dr. Kole Shettima, Abuja, Nigeria

Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Institute for Democratic Governance, Accra, Ghana

Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow, Center for Democracy and Development, Abuja

Prof Mohammad Kuna, Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria

Dr Charmaine Pereira, Independent Scholar, Abuja

Princess Hamman-Obels, The Electoral Hub, Abuja

Moussa Tchangari, Alternative Citizen Spaces, Niamey

Adagbo Onoja, Abuja, Nigeria

Sa’eed Husaini, Abuja, Nigeria

John Odah, Abuja, Nigeria

Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa, Nigeria

Professor Victor Adetula, University of Jos, Nigeria

Professor Istifanus Zabadi, Bingham University, Nigeria

West Africa Civil Society Institute

Professor Warisu O Ali, Abuja

Professor Remi Aiyede, University of Ibadan

Bernadette French

Gloria Ukpong, The Electoral Forum, Abuja, Nigeria

Everest Amaefule, The Electoral Forum, Abuja, Nigeria

Okechukwu Ndeche, Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Abuja, Nigeria

Lassane Ouedraogo, Researcher, CDD West Africa, Abuja, Nigeria

A. Johnson, Electoral Practitioner, The Electoral Forum