Human Rights Lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to consider imposing targeted penalties such as travel bans and asset freezes on Senegalese President Macky Sall and government officials in response to the postponement of the Senegalese election.
Falana urged ECOWAS to organize an extraordinary conference to address and react to the worsening human rights and rule of law situation in the country.
This appeal follows Sall’s announcement of the postponement of this month’s elections due to a dispute over candidate eligibility.
Falana argued that the postponement of the elections indicates Sall’s purposeful attempt to manipulate the country’s Constitution.
He claims that this is done to maintain control in the face of popular will and ambitions.
“Imposing targeted sanctions on Mr Sall and officials of his government is consistent with the provisions of ECOWAS treaties and protocols including article 45 (2) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance,” Falana said in a statement.