CIVICUS has added Senegal to its Watchlist of countries experiencing rapid declines in civic freedoms following the imprisonment of critics, journalists and use of deadly force against protesters.

Development Diaries reports that the basic rights to assembly and expression have come under serious threat in the West African country as authorities continue to target dissenting voices ahead of the 2024 presidential election in the country.

Several people have been killed in clashes and protests against the prosecution of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko in June and July 2023, including through the use of excessive and even lethal force by security forces.

Journalists reporting and commenting on the judicial processes against Sonko have been subjected to arbitrary detentions and prolonged pretrial detention, on charges such as spreading false news and national security charges.

‘Senegal has long been an example of relative stability and democracy in a volatile region’, CIVICUS Researcher, Ine Van Severen, said.

‘The current administration’s persistent and heavy-handed crackdown on opposition protests and dissenting voices puts that hard-earned reputation under threat’.

CIVICUS Monitor tracks the state of civic freedoms in 197 countries and territories using input from research partners across the world.

Photo source: Jeff Attaway