2027 Local Elections: Civil Society Organisations Call for Detailed Electoral Timetable

Senegalese civil society organisations on Wednesday 2 September in Dakar called for preparations for the next local elections to begin swiftly. Their request comes less than five months before the expiry of the terms of departmental and municipal councillors elected on 23 January 2022.

These terms are due to end on 22 January 2027. At the meeting, attended in particular by Moundiaye Cissé, Babacar Ba, president of the Forum du justiciable, and Ndiaga Sylla, speakers stressed the need to meet legal deadlines and ensure transparency in the process.

Several procedures to be clarified

Speaking on behalf of the signatory organisations, Babacar Ba called on the authorities to provide clarity for citizens, political parties and other stakeholders. The stated aim is to prevent preparation deadlines from creating difficulties in the running of the process.

The organisations listed several procedures that have yet to be launched or clarified: the revision and updating of electoral rolls, the calling of the electorate, the setting of the deposit, the submission and verification of candidacies, as well as the material and logistical organisation of the vote.

Consultation and equal access to information

Civil society is calling for the swift launch of consultations bringing together political parties, citizens’ organisations and other stakeholders. It also wants the election date to be set and made public, along with a timetable detailing the different electoral stages.

The organisations also want public information on procedures related to electoral rolls, as well as details on the deposit, candidacies and other preparations. They believe that all political stakeholders must have the same level of information about the timetable, a condition they describe as essential to confidence in the electoral process.