Senegal’s democracy hangs by a thread

JUST WEEKSECOWAS ahead of a planned presidential election in Senegal, on February 3rd called it off. The move has sparked a constitutional crisis and dealt a blow to democracy across west Africa. Much of the opposition has reacted with fury. Khalifa Sall (no relation), a leading opponent, decried what he called “a constitutional coup”. Another candidate, Thierno Alassane Sall (also no relation), called it “high treason”.Senegal has long been seen as a pillar of stability and democracy in west Africa. Unlike many other countries in the region it has avoided civil wars and coups, and has held a series of largely peaceful and democratic transitions of power. Until now, it has never delayed a presidential election. And in a region hit by a spate of coups, Mr Sall has played a leading role in the attempts by , the regional bloc, to push juntas back towards democracy. His message has sometimes been undermined by a sharp decline in freedom in Senegal itself. And now the country’s democracy appears to be in grave danger.