Human Rights Day: OWORAC, PSI, Corporate Accountability Condemn ‘Repression’ Against Senegal Water Workers

A coalition of African and international civil society organisations has condemned what it described as a growing crackdown on water sector workers in Senegal, ahead of this year’s International Human Rights Day.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), Public Services International (PSI), Corporate Accountability and 10 other organisations accused Senegal’s national water operator, SEN’EAU, of targeting Comrade Oumar BA, General Secretary of the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal (SATES).

The statement was endorsed by 13 organisations across Africa and beyond, including Water Citizens Network / Revenue Mobilisation Africa (Ghana), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (Nigeria), Biodiversity and Biosafety Association Kenya (BIBA Kenya), Disability Not a Barrier Initiative (Nigeria), Cheriehomes Global Initiatives (Nigeria), Africa Water Justice Network, Voices for Water (Zimbabwe), Senegalese Water Justice Network (Senegal), Syndicat National Autonome des Travailleurs de l’Energie, de l’Eau et des Mines du Cameroun SYNATEEC (Cameroon), African Centre for Advocacy (Cameroon) and La Confédération des Syndicats Aitonomes du Sénégal (CSA-Sen)

BA, a member of OWORAC and a longtime labour organiser, is currently facing disciplinary actions that the groups say violate basic trade union rights. He began a hunger strike on November 28 in protest against what he calls sustained harassment by SEN’EAU management.

According to the coalition, the sanctions stem from BA’s rejection of a proposed multi-year labour agreement negotiated with selected unions while SATES, currently in court challenging a digital voting system for worker representatives, was excluded.

The groups described the digital voting process as “unlawful” and lacking transparency under Senegalese labour laws. 

They also pointed to the influence of Suez, the French multinational that owns a major stake in SEN’EAU, saying the arrangement has created a power imbalance between workers and management.

“As the world marks Human Rights Day under the theme Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials, it is troubling that water workers are punished for defending rights the day is meant to uphold,” the statement said.

The coalition added that BA’s deteriorating health highlights growing unrest in the sector, where workers cite rising costs, worsening service delivery and public dissatisfaction with Senegal’s privatised water model.

With major rural water agreements due to expire in 2027 and 2028, the groups urged the Senegalese government to reassess its water governance structure and “restore accountability by returning control of water to the communities and workers who rely on it.”

They called on SEN’EAU and national authorities to immediately halt all disciplinary measures against BA, end intimidation of union members, cancel the disputed digital election process, comply with labour laws and begin transparent negotiations with all recognised unions, including SATES.

The coalition also demanded urgent medical care and safeguards for BA, warning that Human Rights Day risks losing significance “if those who defend public accountability are punished for doing so.”