The United Nations has expressed “deep concern” regarding the tense situation in Senegal following the postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25.
Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, conveyed this sentiment on Tuesday, highlighting the suspension of mobile internet access for the second time this month after violent protests erupted in Dakar and other cities, resulting in three deaths.
The Senegalese communications ministry attributed the blackout to the dissemination of “hateful and subversive messages” that fueled the violent demonstrations.
President Macky Sall had announced the election delay earlier in the month, citing disputes over the final list of presidential candidates, which excluded many opposition contenders.
The decision was subsequently formalized by Senegal’s parliament on February 5.
Throssell, speaking in Geneva, urged Senegal’s authorities to uphold democratic traditions and respect human rights, condemning reports of excessive use of force against protesters and restrictions on civic space.
She emphasized the need for investigations into the deaths and fair treatment of those arrested, emphasizing the importance of respecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed these sentiments, calling for a broad-based national dialogue with genuine participation from opposition groups, women, youth, and marginalized communities.
France also weighed in, urging Senegal to hold a new presidential election promptly and exercise restraint in handling protests.
The French Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and emphasized the need for proportionate use of force.
Similarly, the US expressed deep concern over the election delay and called on the Senegalese government to proceed with the ballot as planned.
In a bid to mediate the political crisis, a West African delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Senegal, while former Senegalese presidents Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade called for an end to violence and destruction and advocated for national dialogue to achieve broad national reconciliation.
Source-CNN
