Documentary: How real-time monitoring helped safeguard Senegal's election

Senegal's 2012 Presidential elections took place in a context of deep political strife. Widespread apprehension resonated throughout this West African country as citizens feared their much lauded "democracy" would be toppled after a breach of constitution by their (then) incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade.

In June 2011, some eight months before the scheduled February 2012 elections, the octogenarian head of state wanted to change the constitution allowing him a third mandate. The reaction by a majority of Senegalese people was rousing anger and frustration. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets, and ensuing violence between Senegal's security forces and the population left several casualties and deaths. Many wondered if Senegal's precious democracy would ever be the same again.

"Senegal 2012 Presidential Elections: Democracy on High Alert" chronicles the country's unprecedented rise in political tension, starting from the famous day of June 23rd when the M23 (movement du 23 juin) was born -- a movement made up of civil society and politicians who banded together under the slogan "Don't touch my constitution" (touche pas à ma constitution) -- up to and including President Macky Sall's second-round election victory. 

Under the backdrop of Senegal's strained political situation, the film further delves into how a unique election-monitoring and rapid response platform, known as the "Election Situation Room," helped safeguard the electoral monitoring processes clear across the country. This model, named by analogy for the wartime "situation room" and previously used in both Nigeria's and Liberia's Presidential elections, was set up by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) along with financial support from USAID and the British Council, and technical support from One World UK.

"Senegal 2012 Presidential Elections: Democracy on High Alert" looks at how this tool was put into practice by Senegal's civil society, including "RESOCIT" (le reseau des observateurs citoyens), a group of local citizen observers, to ensure that Presidential elections would take place in a free, fair, coordinated and effective manner. The film also showcases high-profile interviews with prominent members of Senegalese civil, political and religious leaders, which serve to elucidate the extent to which Senegal's democratic livelihood was quite veritably under "high alert."

For more information, see: http://tour1.senevote2012.com/