Senegal’s President Macky Sall, seen here departing after a meeting with France’s President at the Elysee Palace during the New Global Financial Pact Summit in Paris on June 23, 2023, faces mounting opposition and international scrutiny following the indefinite postponement of the presidential election. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
In Summary:
1) President Macky Sall’s indefinite postponement of Senegal’s presidential election triggers opposition protests and draws international attention.
2) Amid disputes over rejected candidates, leaders express urgency for a transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Feb 5, (TopNews) – Senegal grapples with political turmoil following President Macky Sall’s announcement of an indefinite postponement of the presidential election slated for February 25. The decision, made amidst disputes over rejected candidates, incites opposition demonstrations and garners global scrutiny.
“I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election,” Sall said, without providing a new date.
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Opposition parties gear up for protests following Sall’s declaration, prompted by disagreements between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court over candidate exclusions. In response, Sall pledges to initiate an open national dialogue but refrains from setting a new election date.
Presidential candidates express defiance, planning campaign launches despite the delay. The RFM opposition party rejects the postponement outright, vowing mass mobilization for a demonstration.
“We will see all Senegalese people this Sunday for a march,” said party spokesperson Cheikh Tidiane Youm.
Opposition figures unite, with former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall calling for pro-democratic forces to unite.
“All of Senegal must stand up,” he told journalists.
Sall, who is not related to the president, denounced “a constitutional coup” by a leader who “dreams of eternity.”
Internationally, entities like the United States, the European Union, and France voice concerns over the delay, stressing the urgency for a transparent and inclusive electoral process. The EU underscores the necessity of a credible election to alleviate the prevailing uncertainty.
Senegal’s democratic stability faces a severe test, challenging its reputation as a bastion of democracy in West Africa. The exclusion of candidates like Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade fuels parliamentary inquiries into the impartiality of Constitutional Court judges, deepening political polarization.
President Sall’s succession plans encounter internal party divisions, intensifying the electoral climate. Amidst challenges, anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye emerges as a significant contender, despite being incarcerated.
In this climate of uncertainty, Senegal stands at a crossroads, with the postponement amplifying tensions and raising questions about the nation’s democratic trajectory. As opposition voices grow louder and international scrutiny mounts, Senegal faces pivotal decisions in navigating its electoral future.