Senegalese civil society urges President Faye for clarity on electoral calendar
via SeneNews3 min read
Senegalese civil society is calling for transparency and consensus regarding the electoral calendar, as uncertainty surrounds the end of terms for deputies and mayors, which they believe compromises democratic functioning. Moundiaye Cissé, president of Ong 3D, highlighted the institutional ambiguity, stating that no mayor or deputy knows when their term ends. He questioned whether local elections would be postponed, combined with legislative elections, or when the Ceni, the body responsible for managing elections, would be established. Cissé emphasized that such uncertainties are unacceptable in a democracy, noting that only the presidential term has a known end date, while other electoral timelines remain undecided. He directly appealed to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to publicly address these concerns and provide clarity. Cissé stressed the importance of consultation, arguing that electoral rules should not be the exclusive domain of one group, as this creates inequality among candidates. This appeal was made during a workshop on the reform of Act 4 of decentralization, organized by the 3D/Gradec Consortium with support from the European Union. The workshop aimed to inform citizens about the decentralization process and allow them to express their concerns. Civil society actors plan to produce a guide of citizen recommendations to contribute to the public debate on Act 4 of decentralization, awaiting a response from the presidency.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegalese artist Amadeus has released "Boulma Seetaan," the third single from his upcoming album, which addresses the sensitive topic of women who become pregnant after experiencing sexual assault. The song tells the story from the victim's perspective, highlighting the painful memories, sleepless nights, societal judgment, and a potential distrust of men that can follow such trauma. Amadeus also sheds light on assaults committed by close relatives, where innocence is shattered by those who should protect. Beyond honoring victims, "Boulma Seetaan" aims to raise awareness, urging parents and families not to conceal these incidents for the sake of appearances but to seek justice. The artist emphasizes the critical need for psychological support for victims, stressing that family support and specialized care are essential for survivors to overcome trauma and prevent long-term psychological consequences. This emotionally powerful track gives a voice to those who often suffer in silence, underscoring the importance of listening, justice, and protecting victims of sexual violence.
Babacar Béye, head of the Mycotoxin Laboratory at the Institute of Food Technology ITA, has challenged the alarming interpretation of a recent study concerning aflatoxin contamination in rice in Senegal. According to Béye, analyses conducted at the ITA found contamination levels to be in compliance with Codex Alimentarius standards, an international reference used by many countries. He suggests the controversy arose because the study's results were evaluated against the stricter standards of the European Union, despite the products being intended for the Senegalese market. Béye clarified that the analyzed rice was imported, not local, and that the detected levels are not alarming except under extreme storage conditions of humidity and temperature. He also noted that aflatoxins are thermoresistant, meaning cooking does not eliminate them completely. While acknowledging regular sanitary controls, Béye advocates for their reinforcement to better protect consumers and ensure the quality of food products on the market. He declined to comment on a separate study regarding bacteria in sachet water, stating he was not involved in that work.
Spain's victory in the 2026 World Cup could see a portion of their prize money, approximately $50 million from FIFA, redirected to the US Treasury. This is due to US tax law, which allows the Internal Revenue Service IRS to tax income earned from activities conducted on US soil, even for foreign nationals. The majority of the expanded 48-team tournament matches were held in the United States, a co-host with Canada and Mexico. This potential taxation is not limited to players; coaches, technical staff, and even referees who officiated during the tournament could also be affected. Some estimates suggest that nearly half of the prize money could be withheld. As of now, neither FIFA, the Spanish Football Federation, nor the IRS has confirmed the specific terms or amount of any potential taxation, leaving the exact extent of the levy uncertain.