As the campaign for the legislative elections on 17 November 2024 got underway on Sunday, 27 October, ARTICLE 19, the Ligue Sénégalaise des Droits Humains (LSDH), the Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO), AfrikaJom Center, and Amnesty International Senegal called on all politicians and political parties and activists to foster a peaceful political climate that will support free and peaceful elections, in keeping with the country’s long democratic tradition. Physical and verbal violence must not be tolerated. In addition, the nominated candidates currently in detention for various criminal offences, in particular Bougane Guéye Dani, president of the Guem Sa Bopp les Jambars movement, and Cheikh Saad Bouh Keita, president of the FORCE movement, must be released to allow them to take part in the election campaign on an equal footing.
The exercise of public freedoms, in particular freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly and freedom of movement, must be guaranteed to all political actors throughout the country.
The Constitution of Senegal guarantees people’s right to take part in public affairs, either directly or through freely chosen representatives; the right to vote and to be elected in legislative and general elections held in secret ballot as part of universal and equal suffrage; and the right to free expression without unreasonable restrictions during election periods. These rights are also enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, two treaties to which the State of Senegal is a signatory.
Our organisations stand ready to continue working with the State and political players to ensure that these freedoms are respected during the election and that the political and social environment remains calm.
Signatories:
ARTICLE 19 Sénégal and West Africa : Alfred Nkuru Bulakali
RADDHO : Yéya Birane Wane
LSDH : Alassane SECK
AfrikaJom Center : Alioune Tine
Amnesty International Sénégal : Seydi Gassama