The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed a 90-member election observation mission to Senegal for the legislative elections scheduled on November 17, 2024. This initiative is part of ECOWAS's commitment to democracy and good governance, as outlined in its Supplementary Protocol.
Leading the mission is Ambassador Francis Alex Tsegah, a former Ghanaian diplomat with extensive experience in foreign affairs. Ambassador Tsegah served as Ghana's first ambassador to Spain from 2004 to 2009 and held various senior positions within Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Currently, he is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and serves on several advisory boards related to democratic development.
Ambassador Tsegah arrived in Dakar on November 13, ahead of the elections. He will be supported by a technical team led by Serigne Mamadou KA, acting Head of the Electoral Assistance Division. The team plans to engage with key stakeholders such as the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), government officials, civil society organizations, and media representatives.
The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission will work alongside the African Union Election Observation Mission to ensure comprehensive coverage of the electoral process. The campaign period for these elections began on October 27 and concluded on November 15. Voters will decide on candidates vying for 165 seats across Senegal’s districts and diaspora constituencies.