A coalition of African and international rights groups has raised alarm over what it describes as escalating repression within Senegal’s water sector, calling for an immediate end to the intimidation of Comrade Oumar BA, General Secretary of the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal (SATES). The call comes barely 24 hours to the global observance of International Human Rights Day 2025.
In a statement issued by the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), alongside Public Services International (PSI) and Corporate Accountability, the groups accused SEN’EAU, Senegal’s private water operator, of violating trade union freedoms through “sustained intimidation and punitive actions.”
The coalition condemned the ongoing harassment of Comrade BA, a respected labour leader and member of the coalition, who is being targeted for questioning irregular labour practices within the company.
According to the coalition, the dispute began after BA challenged SEN’EAU’s attempt to negotiate a multi-year labour agreement with three unions while excluding SATES. The union is contesting in court what it describes as an unlawful digital voting process used to elect workers’ representatives.
“For refusing these irregularities, Comrade BA now faces illegitimate sanctions,” the coalition said.
The groups stressed that SEN’EAU’s actions take place in a broader context of power imbalance, noting the company’s strong ties to the French water multinational, Suez. “Few essentials are more fundamental than water,” they said. “And few rights deteriorate more rapidly when public utilities fall under private control without accountability.” They added that the harassment of workers undermines the spirit of this year’s Human Rights Day theme: Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.
Concerns mounted after Comrade BA commenced a hunger strike on November 28, protesting what he described as years of harassment, exclusion and targeted pressure from SEN’EAU’s management. Rights groups say his declining condition reflects the depth of despair among water workers who believe their labour rights, safety and wellbeing are being neglected for profit-driven policies.
The statement noted that the deteriorating situation within SEN’EAU mirrors broader complaints from Senegalese communities about declining service delivery, rising costs and weakened oversight under the privatised water model. It added that similar patterns have been recorded in other privately operated water systems, signalling a structural problem rather than isolated misconduct.
Despite the current crisis, the coalition said Senegal has an opportunity for systemic reform as major rural water contracts approach expiration between 2027 and 2028.
“There is room to reclaim public accountability and place water governance back in the hands of communities and workers,” OWORAC stated, calling for a shift away from corporate-driven decision-making.
OWORAC, PSI and Corporate Accountability demanded the immediate withdrawal of all disciplinary measures against Comrade BA, the cancellation of the disputed digital elections, and the guarantee of transparent, lawful dialogue with legitimately elected representatives.
They also called for urgent medical support and protection for BA, insisting that “Human Rights Day carries no meaning if those who defend public interest are punished for doing so.”
The coalition is made up of Water Citizens Network / Revenue Mobilisation Africa (Ghana), Public Service International (Africa and Arab Region), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (Nigeria), Biodiversity and Biosafety Association Kenya (BIBA Kenya), Disability Not a Barrier Initiative (Nigeria), and Cheriehomes Global Initiatives (Nigeria),
Others are 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), Corporate Accountability (USA), and La Confédération des Syndicats Autonomes du Sénégal (CSA-Sen).