Senegalese Elections: Africa’s Model Democracy Under Fire?
“Senegal election 'free and fair'”
By BBC Monitoring
1 March 2007
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Presidential elections held on February 25, 2007, in Senegal were declared free and fair by observers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Although the results of the election are stilling being counted, incumbent Abdoulaye Wade’s supporters are claiming victory for the 81-year old President.  However, a runoff may still be needed if none of the 15 presidential candidates garners more than 50% of the vote.

Senegal “is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa…[and] is the only West African nation not to have experienced a coup since independence” in 1960.  After a peaceful transition of power in 1981, Senegal was led by former President Abdou Diouf, who helped strengthen the country’s commitment to democracy, civil liberties, and human rights.  After serving four consecutive terms, Diouf was defeated in a free and fair election by Wade in 2000 and peacefully transferred power.  Although there are occasional outbreaks of violence between various parties’ supporters, Senegal largely remains seen as a peaceful, model for African democracy.

However, several contentious issues that have surrounded the campaign may hurt the country’s laudable reputation.  Parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for the same day as the Presidential election, have been postponed twice and opposition candidates claim that it is a political ploy by President Wade to influence the outcome.  Additionally, an opposition march was banned and several members of opposition parties have been arrested; Idrissa Seck, for example, was once an ally of President Wade’s but is now a challenger in the presidential race “had been jailed by the government for seven months on embezzlement charges that were never proved.” (AP, http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/27/africa/AF-POL-Senegal-Elections.php)

The official results of the election are expected this week; no date has been set for a potential runoff election.

Additional Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6382059.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6390869.stm
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/Columns/20070224091143/Article/index_html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4714475.stm

Questions:

CCD is interested in the opinion of our readers, especially on unfolding events in our field.  Presidential elections were held in Senegal and deemed free and fair by observers; however, prior to election claims were made challenging Senegal’s model democracy reputation. What do you think?

1. Is Senegal’s reputation for being a model democracy unjustified?
2. Senegal’s population is over 90% Muslim; what lessons, if any, can we take from their experience to help promote democracy in the Middle East?
3. By examining Senegalese history can we determine what differentiates their experience from other African nations that are not democracies and have not had peaceful power turnovers?
4. While the conduct of an election is in itself important for democracy how much importance would you give to a level playing field that allows competitors the same opportunities as the incumbent?