30 Jan 2019 | 11:56 PM UTC
Senegal: Election campaigning to start February 3
Campaigning for February 24 presidential election to start February 3; increasingly frequent political rallies expected in the coming weeks
Event
The National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) on January 25 that the campaign period for the upcoming presidential elections will start on Sunday, February 3, and end on Friday, February 22. There are five candidates running for president, including incumbent President Macky Sall. Voting is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 24. Political rallies and related events are expected to be held with increased frequency during the campaigning period. Heightened security measures and traffic disruptions are likely in the vicinity of any election-related event.
Context
Opposition groups have held regular protests throughout January 2019 and ahead of the February 24 general elections to denounce discrepancies in the electoral process, including the decision to block the jailed former Mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, and other opposition candidates from running for president. Another leading opposition figure, former Minister Karim Wade, will also be unable to contest President Sall in the upcoming elections due to convictions. Senegalese ballot access laws introduced in 2018 require a minimum of 53,000 signatures, or sponsors, in support of a candidate to appear on a presidential ballot.
Advice
Individuals in Senegal are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests and political rallies due to the risk of violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.
