The recent announcement by President Macky Sall of Senegal to postpone the country’s presidential elections has sent shockwaves across West Africa, raising concerns about the stability of democratic institutions in the region. This move, deemed unconstitutional, has plunged Senegal into a constitutional crisis and has far-reaching implications for the entire sub-region.
In an article by Dr. Helena Catherine Kelly from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies , the gravity of the situation is underscored. President Sall’s decision to abrogate the decree setting the election date has not only tested the strength of Senegal’s institutions but has also challenged the balance of powers between them. (https://africacenter.org/spotlight/senegal-constitutional-crisis/)
However, what is often overlooked is the broader impact of such unconstitutional changes. This trend of flouting democratic principles and manipulating constitutions is pervasive among political elites in WestAfrica. From #Nigeria to Gambia, Ivory Coast to Senegal, the erosion of democratic norms and governance standards is a cause for concern.
There are two key issues at play here:
Firstly, the disregard for democratic tenets by civilian leaders is a significant factor contributing to the resurgence of military coups in the region. The growing discontent with authoritarianism and the erosion of #democratic values have made military interventions an appealing alternative for many West African nations.
Secondly, unlike military coups, civilian-led unconstitutional changes of government are harder to detect and condemn. Leaders hiding behind a civilian facade often escape scrutiny and continue to govern with impunity, perpetuating their rule at the expense of #democracy and the rule of law.
Moreover, there is a lack of effective mechanisms for peer review and accountability in West Africa. Regional bodies like ECOWAS have been slow to sanction erring members, further emboldening leaders to flout constitutional norms. (https://globalsentinelng.com/ecowas-nigeria-express-concern-over-developments-in-senegal-bmn-countries/).
The blatant manipulation of the constitution by Alassane Ouattara, which nearly pushed Ivory Coast to the brink of crisis, and the similar disregard for the rule of law by former Guinean President Alpha Conde, paved the way for military intervention. Likewise, the dissatisfaction among the civilian populace in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic due to governance failures led to the acceptance of military coups.
The situation in Senegal is particularly disheartening, given its reputation as an oasis of stability in a volatile region. With the country now teetering on the brink of crisis, and the withdrawal of #BurkinaFaso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, the future of democracy in West Africa hangs in the balance.
At a retreat organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with ECOWAS Commission and the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders highlighted the dangers of unconstitutional changes in governance. Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora , Secretary-General of International IDEA, emphasized the importance of inclusive governance, stating, “History teaches a crucial lesson: a significant portion of the population must feel they have a stake in the political system to prevent challenges, often violent, from those feeling excluded.” (https://globalsentinelng.com/coups-jonathan-international-idea-others-harp-on-inclusive-governance-constitutional-transition-in-africa/)
As Al Jazeera English warns, the departure of these countries from ECOWAS could lead to a fragmented geopolitical system, with #authoritarian military leaders pitted against largely authoritarian civilian governments. The battle lines of #authoritarianism have been drawn, and the stakes are high for the future of democracy in the region. (https://www-aljazeera-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/1/28/niger-mali-burkina-faso-announce-withdrawal-from-ecowas
The coming days and months will be crucial in determining whether West Africa can overcome this existential threat to its democratic ideals or whether it will descend further into chaos and instability.
