News:
May 9, 2023
As part of its Country report presented at the pleanary on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the ongoing 2023 first Ordinary Session in Abuja Nigeria, Senegal told the House it remains on security alert despite being a stable Country compared to the overall security sitation in the Region.
According to Aimé Assine who presented his country Report their alertness is informed by events in their neighbouring countries and attempts by terrorists to enter Senegal combined with political movements.
Whiles with regard to series of crimes and violence against children, measures have been taken by strengthening local security and also through communication based on sensitizing parents.
And as part of the fight against terrorism, the President of the Republic signed in Paris the Christchurch appeal against the dissemination of terrorist contents online.
In its bid to become a leader in the fight against cybercrime, Senegal has set up a special cybercrime division under the Judicial and Open Police.
cybersecurity school with a regional vocation, currently housed at the National School of Administration (ENA) pending its transfer to the new urban centre of Diamniadio.
Thus, the State of Senegal’s hosting of the 7th Forum on Peace and Security in Africa at the beginning of last November was a major contribution to the fight against terrorism in all its forms.
Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and Goods
Senegalese authorities attach importance to the strict application of the provisions of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, the right of establishment and residence, which they consider to be one of the main pillars of regional integration.
It is in this spirit that the said Protocol and the other Community texts that complement it, such as the Decision on the ECOWAS Passport and the biometric identity card, are implemented. Moreover, it should be noted that there are still barriers due to ignorance of the texts or to deliberate acts of illegal collection.
Senegal is working to tackle these challenges, by ensuring better implementation of ECOWAS and WAEMU texts, in particular, the reduction of checkpoints. It should also be noted that our country has proceeded with the abolition of the Resident Card and the implementation of an ECOWAS Biometric National Identity Card which was stipulated by Act n ° 05/2016 of 04 March 2016 and officially launched on October 04, 2016, by the Head of State, making Senegal the first country to introduce it.
In the same vein, the project to launch an Integration Caravan, which will visit the cities of Bircama in The Gambia, Saõ Domingos in Guinea Bissau and Ziguinchor in Senegal, is being finalized with the National Offices of the three countries working on its implementation.
In addition, on 3 November 2021 Senegal launched its national platform for the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Programme of Support for Cross-Border Cooperation (PRACT) 2021-2025. As a reminder, this multi-sectoral development programme aims to work with local communities in the border regions to ensure social cohesion, regional construction and sustainable development.
Fight against corruption and money laundering
The National Office for the Fight against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC) is the main body in charge of the fight against corruption.
It has powers of self-referral, investigation and referral to justice, this fight against money laundering and terrorist financing was taken up at the ECOWAS level through the regional training workshop on the National Risk Assessment (NRA) of money laundering and terrorist financing organized three years ago by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
It remains a concern widely shared by all member states including Senegal.
Sensitisation by MPs of the ECOWAS Parliament sessions to the national assembly
As part of their sensitization activities, the ECOWAS MPs from Senegal are planning to organize restitution sessions in the assembly and at the grassroots level, cultural and sports activities are planned in several localities of the country, as was the case in the past in Bakel and Kébéler.
The Senegalese party recommends the organising of sub-regional festivals to enhance the rich cultural heritage of our peoples.
And inview of that, Senegalese MPs at ECOWAS are in permanent contact with their National Assembly.
Other major political development
Senegal is on track in terms of managing its political framework and this is as a result of the efforts made on both sides to maintain a social climate, which goes beyond promoting democracy, which is a particular mark of our country in the sub-region.
Senegal has been rebuked by ECOWAS court of justice over the sponsorship system it has adopted.
Contrary to the sponsorship practised elsewhere by the system of electors, which favours the majority party in the major institutions, Senegal has chosen citizen sponsorship, which comes from the entire population, without any discrimination and which has the advantage of eliminating in any democracy, any hint of fanciful candidacy, and which in fact reduces the unnecessary number of candidates (47 lists for the 2017 legislative elections) and also significantly reduce the cost of elections.
For the candidates, this involves garnering the sponsorship of 0.8% to 1% of the electorate, i.e. 52,000 signatures, spread over at least seven of the country’s 14 regions with a minimum of 2,000 per region.
Another fact to note is the protest of 23 March 2021, then March 2023 following the arrest of Mr. Ousmane SONKO, leader of the opposition party “PASTEF the Patriots”, who came third in the last presidential elections of 2019.
Recalling On February 3, 2021, a young Senegalese named Adji Rabi SARR lodged a complaint with the Investigation Squad of the National Gendarmerie against Mr. SONKO. Respecting the separation of powers, the State has strictly limited itself to its role of ensuring that the rights of both parties are respected.
The investigation initiated in accordance with the relevant procedure was to enable the gendarmes, after hearing the complainant, to take the statements of the respondent. When summoned, Mr SONKO hid behind his parliamentary immunity to turn down the invitation by the gendarmes. In accordance with the laws and regulations, his parliamentary immunity was lifted, allowing the proceedings to be continued by the investigating judge who summoned him for a hearing on March 3, 2021.
On several occasions, Mr. SONKO said that he would not answer the judge before changing his mind and finally agreed to comply.
However, he used stratagems to mobilize his supporters, organize a delaying tactics by mobilizing the public to avoid going before the judge or, at least, to go on his own conditions.
Underlying the riots, the demonstrators took to the streets to express their poor living conditions and their frustration exacerbated by the impacts of an economic crisis aggravated by the effects of Covid-19 on the daily lives of Senegalese.
This situation has resulted in job losses for young people and women and especially in the restriction of freedoms imposed by the curfew and the ban on gatherings of all kinds.
Despite the violence observed among some of the demonstrators, the Defense and Security forces, as seasoned professionals, were able to handle the situation with discernment as well as maintained order.
Through reassuring messages, President Macky SALL is resolutely committed to providing strong, effective and sustainable solutions to the concerns and living conditions of our compatriots.
The Head of State has thus taken measures concerning support for young people in order to respond, in a substantial and urgent manner, to the needs for training, employment and financing of projects to support youth and women’s entrepreneurship and the informal sector.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com