In response to an invitation from the Senegalese authorities, the EU will observe the presidential election in Senegal to be held on 25 February (see EUROPE 13216/23), as it did in 2012 and 2019. The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will be led by Swedish MEP Malin Björk (The Left), appointed by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell.
“Senegal’s long democratic tradition provides a solid basis for ensuring that the rights and freedoms of all Senegalese are respected during the electoral process”, Josep Borrell stated in a press release on Monday 8 January.
The EU EOM Core Team, made up of nine analysts, will arrive in Dakar in mid-January and will remain in the country until the end of the electoral process. These analysts will be joined by 32 long-term observers who will be deployed throughout the country. Sixty-four short-term observers will reinforce these teams as polling day approaches.
“We hope to contribute to the achievement of a transparent and inclusive electoral process”, commented Ms Björk, assuring that “the EU EOM will produce a detailed, independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process”.
The main opponent, Ousmane Sonko, who was imprisoned after demonstrations in June (see EUROPE 13194/29), was supposed to be a candidate following a decision by the Dakar Court on 14 December, but the Constitutional Council finally decided to make him ineligible on 5 January, after the Supreme Court sentenced Mr Sonko on 4 January to a 6-month suspended prison sentence for defamation.
At the end of its mandate, the EU-EOM will publish an introductory statement before formulating its recommendations for future electoral processes. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)