- Election indefinitely cancelled
- Dialogue for inclusive election
- Unprecedented political situation
The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has indefinitely cancelled the presidential election that was originally scheduled for 25 February.
In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, the president announced that he had nullified the relevant electoral legislation, citing a dispute over the candidate list.
Sall stated that he had endorsed a decree nullifying a November 2023 resolution that had set the initial election date.
Without specifying a new date, he said, “I will initiate an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal.”
The announcement came after the Constitutional Council last month excluded several prominent opposition members from the list of candidates.
The ruling compromised the integrity of the electoral process and heightened growing dissatisfaction, as disqualified candidates claimed that the candidacy requirements were not applied fairly – a claim the authorities have denied.
“The said challenging circumstances have the potential to significantly erode the ballot’s credibility by fostering pre- and post-electoral disputes,” Sall explained regarding the reason for the vote’s postponement.
Karim Wade, a candidate of the opposition Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), was among those disqualified from participating in the election. He had previously submitted a formal request to delay the vote.
On the other hand, the opposition PASTEF Party expressed disapproval of the election suspension resolution. “We consider this to be a coup against the constitution,” said Yassine Fall, vice president of Pastef.
Election Crisis Deepens in Senegal
Macky Sall is acting against us; he is not acting for us,” she declared. “Macky Sall knows that the election results would be a resounding triumph for us. However, he wishes to remain in power or to have a candidate from his party win. This is why he engages in such illicit games: to gain access and manipulate the institutions.
“Our democracy is currently experiencing a critical setback due to Macky Sall assuming responsibilities that are not his.”
“Confronted with ambiguity,” said Nicholas Haque of Al Jazeera, reporting from Dakar, Sall provided several reasons for not holding the election.
“Discrepancies have emerged concerning the electoral process… “Some prominent candidates and leaders of the political opposition are not participating in the race,” he explained.
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Wade, a member of the PDS currently living in exile in Qatar, was disqualified from competing in the race on the grounds that he held dual French-Senegalese citizenship, according to Haque. Rose Wardini, another candidate who was disqualified, is currently under detention on suspicion of possessing dual citizenship.
Our correspondent explained that both the popular opposition leader of PASTEF, Ousmane Sonko, and his stand-in for this election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are imprisoned.
“Consequently, the electoral process appeared precarious in a country that is usually considered one of the most stable democracies in the region.” Haque said, “President Macky Sall explained that he decided to postpone the elections and advocate for a nationwide dialogue for this reason.”
Senegal Faces Unprecedented Election Delay
Sall has declared that he will not seek a third term in office; he reaffirmed this commitment in his address on Saturday. He said, “My solemn commitment to not run for the presidency remains unchanged.”
A postponement of the Senegalese presidential election at this stage is unprecedented.
Haque stated, “[Senegal] has historically conducted democratic and electoral processes amicably, during which one president hands over power to another. Therefore, this is truly unprecedented for the Senegalese people, the government, and the electoral process.”
Twenty candidates were competing for the nomination. At this time, the Senegalese people are uncertain of the forthcoming election date and, more importantly, who will lead the nation.
