Election Boycott Threatens Senegal’s Democratic Reputation
April 12, 2007
Dakar 12 April 2007 |
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Even though Senegal is located in a part More Spokesman Yankhoba Seydi, of the Rewmi Party, which came in second "Let us talk about the rules. There are many things that are wrong The president’s office says the opposition is boycotting because it is scared of being crushed in the next election. Election observer Alioune Tine says the presidential election was fair, despite some problems. International observers also said the vote was free and fair, despite minor problems and some inequality in media coverage. Tine, the director of the Senegal-based human rights group, RADDHO, "You know the president is a man who wants people to recognize his RADDHO is one of about a dozen civil society groups, called the Civil Forum, trying to stop the boycott. "I think that the problem with the opposition is that the condition The Civil Forum submitted a letter to President Wade last Friday requesting to mediate a meeting between the two sides. Presidential spokesman Amadou Sall says there is no need for civil "We do not know why [under] this condition we [would] we receive This all comes as Senegal fine-tunes its request to the United At stake is up to $800 milllion to finance a large-scale business and residential development. Team leader Sogue Diarisso says he is confident Senegal’s high rank He says Senegal is starting out much higher rating than other poor But Chris Fomunyoh, the Central and West Africa program director for "When you have a huge segment that is not participating in the The twice-delayed legislative election is scheduled to take place
of the world known for volatile and violent politics, it is the only
West African country to not have had a coup. Seven years ago, it held
democratic elections that brought a new party to power. But, after
President Abdoulaye Wade was re-elected earlier this year, opponents
cried fraud and have vowed to boycott the upcoming legislative
election. Local civil society is alarmed, while analysts consider the
long-term impact of this potential boycott. Phuong Tran has more from
Dakar.
President Abdoulaye Wade outlines his next term after official results declare him the winner of Senegal’s election, 1 Mar 2007
than 10 opposition parties say they refuse to participate in an
election they say will be unfair. They say the president won his
re-election through fraud.
in the presidential election, says his party wants electoral changes
before participating.
in the registration process. Let us check the multiple cards that [are]
issued for the voters," he said.
says the opposition needs to recognize Mr. Wade fairly won almost 56
percent of the vote, before the president will meet with them.
competence, to recognize [his] qualities, et cetera, it is a human
feeling," he said.
is to discuss or to boycott. It was not the best way to [encourage]
dialogue and to make our electoral system [stronger]," he said.
society to play referee. He says the constitutional court already ruled
elections were fair.
civil society. To do what? I really do not know if the president will
do it," he said.
States Millennium Challenge Corporation, which rewards poor, but
well-governed countries with grants to reduce poverty.
for good governance will not drop significantly, as a result of the
threatened boycott.
countries, in terms of democracy, and that the threat of a boycott does
not change the solid core of Senegal’s democratic history.
the U.S.-based election watchdog group National Democratic Institute,
says a boycott can hurt a country’s democracy, in the long-term.
political process, it is difficult to expect that those that win power,
through that process, will have legitimacy they need to be able to
govern," he said.
June 3. The president’s office has said that it does not plan to delay
the election again, regardless of opposition party participation.
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