The Alliance for Election Transparency (Atel) plans to hold a rally on Friday, September 27 at the Place de la Nation in Dakar. Bringing together 113 opposition political parties and personalities, this structure is fighting for the establishment of dialogue which it accuses the « new regime » of not « privileging »,  less than two months before the legislative elections.

The opposition has decided to take to the streets again. Grouped around the Alliance for Election Transparency (Atel), 113 political parties and personalities announced yesterday that they would hold a rally at Place de la Nation in Dakar on Friday, September 27, 2024.

This new opposition group accuses President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of not respecting the principle of consultation that characterizes the Senegalese political space. Thus, one of the members of Atel and former candidate in the last presidential election, Pape Djibril Fall, declared: « We call on all Senegalese people to participate massively in the rally, in order to materialize popular support for the demands for transparency in the election scheduled for November 17. »

Dissolution the National Assembly: Diomaye validates Sonko’s wish

Other actions will be carried out by Atel. These include “referral to competent judicial bodies, including the Court of Appeal, the Constitutional Council and the ECOWAS Court of Justice”, “visits to religious and traditional authorities, as well as diplomatic representations”. “Combat actions will be undertaken in case of “necessity” for the preservation of “democratic achievements”, indicated Thierno Boucoum.

According to Khalifa Ababacar Sall (Taxawu Senegaal), one of its founders, Atel is a « structure for consultation and reflection » for the transparency of the November 17 elections. According to the former mayor of Dakar, this new structure will « fight on the terrain for transparent elections. »

Legislative Elections Set For 17 November

« Since the establishment of the Kéba Mbaye Electoral Code in 1992, we are also pleased to have his son, Abdoul Mbaye, among us, Senegal has acquired valuable experience in organizing peaceful elections with results accepted by all stakeholders, » said Thierno Bocoum of the political movement Agir, reading the founding text of the alliance. « The fundamental pillar of this experience lies in the consultation granting each stakeholder the right to participate in all phases of the electoral process, » added Bocoum. A principle which, for these members of the opposition, « was flouted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who set the date of the early elections unilaterally. »

« Nothing can justify an attack on this long tradition of consultation and consensus, » denounced Atel, which says it observes with « deep regret » that since the presidential election, « no consultation has been initiated to date. » « The organization of a vote is not the prerogative of the party or coalition in power alone. The Constitution requires the involvement of all stakeholders, » argued Thierno Bocoum who pointed out that « political parties cannot tolerate the refusal of consultation » which, he says, « opens the way to opacity and fraud. »

Fight against economic crimes: The Financial Judicial Pool installed

The new opposition pole, the Alliance for Election Transparency (Atel) was officially launched yesterday, less than two months before the early legislative elections on November 17.  The structure polarizes the overwhelming majority of opposition parties and figures. In total, 113 political figures and groups have signed the founding charter of Atel, including: Thierno Bocoum, Abdou Mbow, Abdoul Mbaye, Khalifa Sall, Anta Babacar Ngom, Seydou Diouf, Pape Djibril Fall, Bougane Guèye, Amadou Ba, Abdoulaye Baldé, Alassane Cissé, Modou Diagne Fada, Mousty Diakhaté, Demba Diop Sy, Pape Diop, Mamoudou Ibra Kane, Mamadou Massaly, Babacar Mbaye Ngaraf, Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye (Ps), Théodore Monteuil (Afp), Aly Ngouille Ndiaye (Apr), Thierno Alassane Sall, El Hadj Momar Samb, Oumar Sarr (Ld Debout), Idrissa Seck (Rewmi), Talla Sylla, Aïssata Tall Sall, Me El Hadj Diouf.
By Amadou MBODJI / ambodji@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH