ECOWAS mission observes peaceful Senegal presidential election

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, as Senegal prepared to elect its next president, the nation witnessed a remarkable display of democratic participation with an estimated 7,371,890 registered voters expected to cast their ballots.

Against the backdrop of anticipation, the Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Observation Mission, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, led an early-morning deployment to oversee the commencement of the electoral process.

The ECOWAS delegation, comprising Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ambassador MUSA SANI NUHU, and Mr. Serigne Ka, embarked on a comprehensive tour of polling centers across Dakar, including notable sites like BERTHE MAUBERT school, Hadja Wrath DIENE school, and Pikine-Guediawaye Private school.

Their mission was not only to evaluate the operational readiness of polling stations but also to gauge the atmosphere surrounding the election.

Visits to the situation room, where technical teams compiled data from deployed observers, provided further insight into the progress of the electoral process.

In the initial hours of voting, Prof Gambari expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the election, highlighting the absence of major incidents. He commended all stakeholders for their commitment to maintaining a peaceful environment throughout the campaign period and urged voters to continue in the same vein.

Emphasizing the importance of respecting the electoral outcomes, Prof. Gambari urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek legal avenues in case of disputes.

His sentiments echoed those of CENA President Abdoulaye Sylla, who, in a pre-election message, called for political maturity and peaceful participation from all citizens.

As the day unfolded, the ECOWAS mission diligently compiled reports from its 130 observers deployed across the country. These reports will form the basis of a preliminary statement scheduled to be delivered by Prof. Gambari during a press conference on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Amidst a backdrop of democratic fervor, Senegal’s presidential election day served as a testament to the nation’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and conducting transparent, peaceful elections.