Senegal – annual report 2023

Details
Published: September 4, 2024

Strategic framework

Legal Policy Starting Point

Senegal is still considered a stable democracy in West Africa and an important partner for many European Union countries. However, political tensions arose in the country in the run-up to the presidential elections in 2024. Following a period of violent protests triggered by the arrest and conviction of opposition politician and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, current President Macky Sall announced the end of his term in office in 2024. Until then, the current government wants to push ahead with a comprehensive programme for the economic and social development of the country until 2035 (“Plan Sénégal Emergent”). The core objectives include establishing economic stability, combating unemployment, strengthening the private sector – in particular the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises – and expanding infrastructure.

Legal reforms to promote human rights, improve access to justice, strengthen the rule of law and decentralize the administration of justice are also being pursued. Despite economic prosperity, which is largely based on natural gas deposits in the coastal region, there are currently major social challenges (energy shortages, unemployment, food crises and the urban-rural divide).

Overall Concept

IRZ’s cooperation with Senegal is based on a joint declaration of intent between the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Senegalese Ministry of Justice from 2019. Here, the focus is on further developing and improving the legislation in the area of criminal law, reforms in the penal system and the initial and further training of judges, public prosecutors and other judicial actors. IRZ bases its planning on the aforementioned priorities and is also expanding its activities to include topics such as mediation in commercial and civil law. IRZ’s most important partners in Senegal are the Ministry of Justice, the penitentiary authorities, the penitentiary staff training academy, the judicial academy and the non-governmental organization Africa Mediation Association.

Focus of Activity in 2023

Civil and Commercial Law

  • Regional webinar series on mediation in cooperation with the Africa Mediation Association

Criminal and Penitentiary Law

  • Seminar “Education and training of prison staff – communication, behavior, treatment of vulnerable groups” with the Senegalese penitentiary staff training academy in Dakar
  • Study trip to Berlin by the Directorate of the Senegalese penitentiary staff training academy on the subject of “Initial and further training of prison staff”

Basic and Further Training

  • Training of trainers “Soft skills in the professional practice of the judiciary” with the Senegalese Judicial College in Dakar

Outlook

IRZ’s activities in Senegal will continue to be guided by the joint declaration of intent between the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Senegalese Ministry of Justice. The focus will continue to be on projects in the field of criminal and penal law and further training of relevant justice actors. In addition, IRZ will build on previous cooperation in the areas of “commercial law”, “digitisation of the justice system” and “mediation”. In all project activities, IRZ aims to involve other West African countries in order to strengthen synergy effects in the region.