By Bunmi Yekini
Trade unions and civil society groups from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda on Tuesday accused water utility SEN’EAU of intimidating union leaders in Senegal and urged the government in Dakar to intervene, saying workers’ constitutional rights were being undermined.
In a joint statement, the 16 organisations said they were “deeply disturbed” by what they described as bullying and targeted pressure on Oumar Ba, General Secretary of the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal (SATES). Ba has been leading calls for stronger public water services and improved labour rights.
“We have learnt of the unrelenting pressure being mounted on Mr. Oumar Ba,” the groups said. “It is very disturbing that the management of SEN’EAU has decided to victimise him for refusing to accept their double-dealing and attempt to sideline his union.”
The organisations accused SEN’EAU of attempting to “divide and rule” by negotiating multi-year agreements with three other unions while excluding SATES, which they described as a “vocal advocate” for worker rights. “This is totally unacceptable and cannot be allowed to stand in a system that must be transparent and accountable to the people,” they said.
The groups also criticised what they called the Senegalese government’s “complicit silence,” saying authorities had failed to speak out despite growing concerns over workers’ rights.
“Even with the outrage over what is being unleashed on workers, the government has maintained silence, allowing management to undermine freedom of expression guaranteed under Articles 8 and 10 of the Constitution,” the statement said.
They noted that Article 8 protects citizens’ freedoms of expression, association, work and collective rights. “No individual or organisation, not even the government, has the right to prevent workers from exercising these liberties,” the groups added.
The signatories expressed solidarity with Ba and other affected workers, urging them to “remain resolute” as they push for improved conditions. They called on Senegal’s authorities to halt what they described as “anti-people and anti-workers actions” by SEN’EAU and to launch an “independent, detailed and transparent review” of its management practices.
The statement was signed by major unions and civil society organisations including Nigeria’s Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Employees, the National Union of Electricity Employees, Kenya’s Union of Civil Servants and the Uganda Public Employees Union.