The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Céna) of Senegal recently underwent a reshuffle, with the dismissal of its president, Doudou Ndir, as well as the replacement of all its members by presidential decree. This decision comes at a time when the country is in the midst of controversy over the eligibility of opponent Ousmane Sonko, raising questions about the appropriateness of this change.
Although the mandate of the former members of the Céna expired two and a half years ago, the fact that this reshuffle occurs at a time when the opponent Ousmane Sonko is at the heart of the debates on his reintegration into the electoral register leaves some observers perplexed. . Indeed, the Céna had recently asked the general directorate of elections to reinstate the opponent in the electoral lists following a decision by the Ziguinchor district court to this effect.
However, voices are being raised to denounce the non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Code, which provides that such changes can only occur to a third of the members of the Céna, and this, less than four months before an election. major like the presidential election. For some, this calls into question the trust placed in election management bodies. Electoral experts and civil society organizations have expressed concern about this sudden replacement and have even filed a complaint before the competent courts for violation of the principle of the permanence of the electoral control and supervision body.
On the government side, we maintain that this decision is completely normal and that it corresponds to the end of the mandate of the members of the CENA. The government spokesperson says that even the opposition had called for this change, which justifies the presidential decision. According to him, the debate should not focus on anything other than the duration of the mandate of the members of the CENA which has expired.
In this context, the President of the Republic appointed a new president of the Céna, namely Abdoulaye Sylla, a state inspector general, who will be assisted by Ndary Toure, a magistrate, as vice-president. Both managers are retired.
This reshuffle of the Céna in Senegal raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process in the country. With the presidential election fast approaching, it is essential that election management bodies are credible and independent to ensure a fair and equitable vote. The evolution of this situation will be closely monitored by national and international observers, who hope to see confidence restored in the Senegalese electoral process.