Country

Senegal

Hybrid Authoritarian

0.23%

of the world’s population

19,366,500 people

Source: Tyranny Tracker

Overview

HRF classifies Senegal as ruled by a hybrid authoritarian regime.

Senegal is a presidential republic. The Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, was democratically elected in the 2024 elections. The polls ended a three-year political crisis and violent unrest sparked by former President Macky Sall’s legal maneuvers to sideline his main opponents and crack down on dissent, amid efforts to stay in power beyond the two-term constitutional limit. Since taking office, the African Patriots of Senegal for Labor, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) regime has restored some democracy while maintaining some of the previous regimes’ authoritarian practices.

Key Highlights

National elections are largely free and fair. Since taking office, the regime has organized one national election, which was free and fair.

Independent media, political leaders, and civil society organizations are seriously and unfairly hindered in their ability to openly criticize or challenge the regime. While Senegal has a vibrant independent press that can report critically on the government, journalists, commentators, activists, and opposition members consistently face detention and criminal charges for criticizing government officials.

The judiciary also fails to serve as a check on the regime in a way that allows it to repress criticism. The regime has exploited the judicial system to harass journalists under the guise of spreading false news and to pursue former members of the previous regime on corruption charges.

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