The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sent a diplomatic mission to Senegal to discuss the political situation in the country following a delay in its presidential election.
The 15-member Nations bloc's parliamentary office announced the mission on Monday, adding that the speaker, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, would lead other members of the parliament to meet Senegalese authorities, politicians and representatives of the civil society.
According to a statement, the mission will be in Senegal between February 12 and 14, 2024.
SaharaReporters had also reported on February 7, that human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, asked the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to urgently organise an extra-ordinary session to discuss and respond to the deteriorating human rights and rule of law situation in Senegal.
Falana’s call had followed President Macky Sall’s decision to call off this month’s elections citing as pretext a row over the eligibility of candidates.
According to Falana, “the ECOWAS leaders should consider imposing targeted sanctions including imposing travel bans, asset freezes and other targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government responsible for serious violations of the democratic rights of the people of Senegal.”
The statement had read in part: “Imposing targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government is consistent with the provisions of ECOWAS treaties and protocols including article 45 (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.”
“Article 2 (1) & (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance stipulates that: 1. No substantial modification shall be made to the electoral laws in the last six (6) months before the elections, except with the consent of a majority of Political actors. 2. All the elections shall be organized on the dates or at periods fixed by the Constitution or the electoral laws.”