Jonathan In Charge Of The WAEF Election Team In Senegal

A mediation team from the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) has been sent to Senegal in advance of the nation's presidential election on March 24, 2024.

Leading the mission is Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria and chairperson of the West African Economic Forum (WAEF). Accompanying him is Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a former Under-Secretary-General, Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and former president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in addition to WAEF secretariat staff.

According to a statement signed by Wealth Dickson Ominabo, the communications officer for the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, members of the Mission departing Abuja on Thursday for Dakar will visit Senegal from March 21–27, 2024.

He announced that the delegation would meet with important players, such as the nation's election commission, opposition leaders, civic society, security agencies, and outgoing President Macky Sall.

Mr. Ann Lyonu, the head of the WAEF secretariat and executive director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, said that the organization is a “forum primed for mediation, advisory and conflict resolution roles to ensure that election related conflicts are reduced to the barest minimum in the West Africa sub-region.”

She added that while in Dakar, mission personnel would keep a careful eye on the electoral process and stay in touch with Senegalese political figures and other interested parties until the peaceful and successful conclusion of the 2024 election process.

According to this mandate, WAEF had participated in elections in The Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in a similar capacity.