Senegal: civil society awards satisfaction after legislative elections “without major dispute”

“It is a balance of satisfaction that we draw from this election because it is the first time that we are going to an election without major dispute. This is the first time that we are going to an election in an inclusive way,” said Moundiaye Cissé, member of COSCE.

He was speaking during a press conference of the collective of civil society organizations for the elections which aims to evaluate the organization and progress of the early legislative elections of November 17 won by the ruling party, the Pastef. “This is the place to congratulate the electoral administration. The new Minister of the Interior and the new Director General of Elections have succeeded in the challenge of organization brilliantly. The deadlines were tight, but they were able to do the necessary work,” said Moundiaye Cissé.

Mr. Cissé insisted on the “inclusive” nature of the vote. “This is the first time that we have organized elections without major disputes. It is also the first time that we have organized elections with the involvement of everyone, of all the candidates. From 2012 to the present day, there have always been candidates who failed in the elections,” he noted.

He praised the “maturity” shown by the Senegalese people to “show that disputes between political actors are resolved through the ballot box and not through violence.”

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The COSE member also invited the new authorities “to address citizens’ concerns by avoiding any conflict with the opposition”.

Moundiaye Cissé also did not fail to magnify “the elegance shown by the opposition in congratulating the winner of the vote”.

Professor Babacar Guèye, member of COSCE, for his part, highlighted the recommendations of this structure which brings together several civil society organizations. “We must move towards the introduction of the single ballot to make economies of scale, to fight against conscience shopping and to have much more credible elections,” he recommended.

The COSCE also recommends the automatic registration of young people who reach the voting age on the electoral register. The collective of civil society organizations for the elections also recommended the “removal of legal provisions establishing a sort of automatic deadline civil rights of persons who are sentenced to a prison term exceeding 5 years.