Senegal President Macky Sall bid to postpone the Feb. 25 election because of unsolved crisis on who can contest, thereby rescheduling the elections to Dec. 15 may be overturned by the country’s election authority.
This follows new move by the country’s Constitutional Council ruled that those moves were unconstitutional, ordering the government to hold the election at an earlier date, creating enough time for campaigning.
The sitting eroded that Feb. 25 may have come too soon, alerting the government to act swiftly.
Presidential spokesperson, Yoro Dia noted President Sall wants full compliance with the panels decision to hold the elections as soon as possible.
Pressures have been mounted since talks to delay the elections with both local and international bodies including U.S. Bureau of African Affairs commending the council’s decision to put Senegal back on track for a timely presidential election and
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging all Senegalese parties to hold an inclusive and transparent presidential election within the framework of Senegals constitution.
ECOWAS, opined that the outgoing president should stick to the election guidelines and use tested and trusted authorities for the process in line with the council’s decision.
Elected in 2012 for a two term tenure expected to finish by April 2, 2024, Salls is mandated to conduct elections 30-45 days before his mandate ends but election disputes have throwned the country into a crisis that has resulted in nationwide protest.
Despite an effort to arrest the situation, the government has released hundred political prisoners in a new move however oppositions are of the opinion that
all political prisoners should be freed according to Dr. Manel Fall, a member of the dissolved PASTEF opposition party.
Amidst the crisis three were killed by security forces and dozens injured but as days go by its still unclear when a date would be set, and whether there would be changes to who is allowed to run.
