AFRICA TRADE UNIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY DEMAND GOVERNMENT OF SENEGAL STOP INTIMIDATORY ACTS AGAINST OUMAR BA AND WATER SECTOR

9 December 2025 – We the undersigned trade union and civil society organisations from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda have watched with consternation the unfolding intimidatory acts of the management of SEN’EAU against union members in Senegal’s public water sector.

We have learnt of the bullying and unrelenting pressure being mounted particularly on Mr. Oumar Ba, General Secretary of the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal (SATES), who has been at the fore of agitation for fair and equitable public water services and the rights of workers.

We find it very disturbing that the management of SEN-EAU has decided to victimize Oumar Ba for refusing to accept their double dealing and attempt to sideline his union, a vocal advocate for workers right, while negotiating multi-year agreements with three other unions within SEN’EAU.

The attempt by SEN’EAU to introduce divide and rule tactics among the unions within it through the sidelining of SATES is totally unacceptable and cannot be allowed to stand in a system that must be transparent and accountable to the people.

Perhaps more disturbing to us is the fact that even with the growing outrage over what is being unleashed on workers by SEN’EAU, the Senegalese government has maintained a complicit silence, allowing the management to undermine freedom of expression which is guaranteed in Articles 8 & 10 of that country’s Constitution.

Article 8 of the Constitution guarantees all citizens fundamental individual freedoms, economic and social rights, and collective rights, including freedoms of opinion, expression, association, movement, enterprise, property, work, health, and a healthy environment, all exercised under conditions set by law. No one individual or organisation and not even the government has the right to prevent workers from exercising these rights and liberties.

In the face of the very disturbing developments we have observed, we stand in solidarity with Oumar Ba and other victimized unionists and encourage them to remain resolute in advocating for their rights to fair treatment and improved work conditions.

We are calling on the government of Senegal to rein in on the anti-people and anti-workers actions of the management of SEN’EAU and carry out an independent, detailed and transparent review of its managerial practices to ensure they are in line with the principles of justice and public accountability.

Signed

1. Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) – Nigeria
2. National Union of Electricity Employees – Nigeria
3. Citizens Free Service Forum – Nigeria
4. Ecumenical Water Network Africa – Nigeria
5. Renevlyn Development Initiative – Nigeria
6. Help initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development – Nigeria
7. New Life Community Care Initiative – Nigeria
8. Child Health Organisation – Nigeria
9. Environmental Defenders Network – Nigeria
10. Country Government Workers Union (CGWU-K), Kenya
11. Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) – Kenya
12. Kenya Electrical Trade and Allied Workers Union (KETAWU)- Kenya
13. Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW) Kenya
14. Global Outlook Trade Union School Alumni Network (GOTUSA), Kenya
15. Uganda Public Employees Union (UPEU), Uganda