SUMMARY
For many years following independence, the political life of Senegal was dominated by President Léopold Senghor and his socialist party PS (Parti Socialiste du Sénégal, the Socialist Party of Senegal), which was the sole legal party from 1966 until 1976. In 1976 Senghor announced the creation of a three-party system and in 1978 a fourth political party was officially recognised. After a period of economic decline, popular protest forces Senghor to resign in 1980. He was replaced by Abdou Diouf both as the head of the the country and of PS. Under Diouf (1981-2000) the country’s political system was reorganised and the restrictions placed on political activity were removed. Despite facing street violence and border tensions as well as a violent separatist movement in the southern region of the Casamance, most observers agree that the governments commitment to democracy and human rights strengthened during this period. In the presidential election of 2000, Diouf was defeated in an election deemed free and fair. The winner was Abdoulaye Wade, head of the PDS (Parti démocratique Sénégalais, Senegalese Democratic Party) and leader of the opposition for more than 25 years. He was re-elected in the 2007 polls, winning 56% of the vote in a field of 15 candidates.
Senegal has well-trained and disciplined armed forces consisting of about 17,000 personnel in the army, air force, navy, and gendarmerie. It has for many years regularly taken part in peace-keeping operations conducted both by the AU (African Union), as well as its predecessor OAU (Organisation of African Unity) and the UN (United Nations). Senegal itself proudly claims to have republican security forces that obey the orders of the political authorities. However, from this followed grave implications for the government with regard to human rights abuses which clearly implied the responsibility of the highest authorities of the State through the 1990s. It is generally held that the government’s human rights record, while improving slightly during Diof, remained marred by irregularities. However, Wade as he came to power declared the will of the current authorities in Senegal to put an end to the almost complete impunity enjoyed by so many of those responsible for violating human rights in Senegal and according to among others Amnesty International, the country has seen a new direction since 2000.
The government of Senegal has been involved in the intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.
