The Senegalese Parliament has approved a bill to delay the presidential elections, previously scheduled for February 25, to December 15, 2024, amidst a tumultuous atmosphere.
The Speaker of the National Assembly confirmed the passage of the law after gendarmes forcefully removed opposing deputies who were obstructing the voting process. The law was unanimously approved by the 105 present members of the chamber, with the absence of opposition deputies.
The approved law also stipulates the continuation of President Macky Sall’s mandate until the installation of his successor. The intense discussions that began in the morning lasted until evening and were marked by physical altercations between parliamentarians.
The text of the bill was proposed by the Karim Wade camp, whose candidacy was invalidated by the Constitutional Council, and enjoys the support of President Macky Sall’s camp, who announced the postponement of the elections on Saturday. The preparatory committee suggested the delay of the elections for more than 6 months, considering the country’s circumstances, particularly the difficulties that could be caused by organizing election campaigns during the rainy season (July to November) or the potential coincidence with religious holidays.
Protests erupted in the capital, Dakar, on Sunday after President Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential elections. The opposition in Senegal sharply criticized Sall’s decision, attributing it to “disputes between the National Assembly (parliament) and the Constitutional Council,” and called for demonstrations in Dakar, a call that hundreds of citizens heeded.
Several opposition candidates announced yesterday that they would ignore the president’s decision and continue their election campaigns. Senegal has never postponed presidential elections before, and the state of uncertainty could potentially lead to further unrest, similar to the violent protests in previous years.
The opposition’s movements coincided with a parliamentary session dedicated to discussing the bill that allows the President to extend his term for a full year, a move that the opposition rejects. The bill proposes holding the elections on August 25 and keeping Sall in office until the installation of his successor.
The statement by President Sall to delay the presidential elections also raised international concerns, with the European Union emphasizing that postponing the elections would lead to a “period of uncertainty” in the country, urging for the elections to be held “at the earliest opportunity.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed its concerns about the circumstances that led to the postponement of the elections and called for a new date to be set swiftly. The French Foreign Ministry urged the authorities to “remove the uncertainty surrounding the election timetable so that they can be held as soon as possible and in accordance with Senegalese democratic principles.”
The announcement of President Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential elections has elicited international and domestic reactions, reflecting the significance and impact of the developments in Senegal’s political landscape.
