Senegal’s President Macky Sall has indefinitely delayed the presidential election, originally set for February 25.
Addressing the nation via television on Saturday, President Sall announced the cancellation of the pertinent electoral law due to a dispute over the candidate list. He signed a decree nullifying a November 2023 measure that had initially established the election date.
“I will initiate an open national dialogue to ensure a free, transparent, and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal,” he declared, refraining from specifying a new date.
The postponement follows the exclusion of several prominent opposition members from the candidate list by the Constitutional Council last month. This decision raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and sparked growing dissatisfaction among excluded candidates, who claimed unfair application of candidacy rules—a charge authorities denied.
President Sall cited these troubled conditions as reasons for delaying the vote, warning that they could undermine the ballot’s credibility by sowing seeds of pre- and post-electoral disputes.
The opposition Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), whose candidate Karim Wade was among those barred from running, had previously formally requested a vote postponement. However, the opposition PASTEF Party did not endorse the decision to halt the election, branding it a “constitutional coup.” Yassine Fall, PASTEF’s vice president, accused President Sall of manipulating institutions to retain power or secure the victory of someone from his party.
The doubts surrounding the electoral process due to the absence of major candidates or political opposition leaders from the race. Among those excluded are PDS’s Wade, accused of dual citizenship and currently in exile in Qatar, and another disqualified candidate, Rose Wardini, currently detained and also accused of dual citizenship.
The popular opposition leader of PASTEF, Ousmane Sonko, along with his stand-in for this election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are both incarcerated, further complicating the electoral landscape.
President Sall reiterated his commitment not to seek a third term, emphasizing that this postponement marks the first time a Senegalese presidential election has been delayed.
The European Union and the United States have called for a swift rescheduling of the polls to end the period of uncertainty. The international community is urging Senegalese politicians to prioritize dialogue and collaboration to ensure transparent, inclusive, and credible elections.
Despite these assurances, the postponement has intensified tensions in Senegal, with protests erupting in Dakar. The country, renowned for its democratic stability, now faces uncertainty over its future leadership, with analysts warning that the crisis is testing one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
