Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, stirred controversy on Saturday by indefinitely postponing the presidential election initially slated for February 25, prompting backlash from opposition figures and a high-profile ministerial resignation.
The abrupt postponement, announced just hours before the official commencement of campaigning, follows a dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court over the disqualification of candidates.
President Sall cited the need for an open national dialogue to ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive election process but refrained from announcing a new date. According to electoral laws, the earliest the election could now take place is late April.
Shortly after Sall’s announcement, Abdou Latif Coulibaly, the government’s Secretary General and spokesperson, tendered his resignation, citing the desire for unimpeded advocacy of his political beliefs.
This marks the first-ever postponement of a Senegalese presidential election and exacerbates political tensions in the country.
Opposition leaders denounced the decision, with one labeling it “high treason towards the Republic” and calling for unified resistance. Another opposition figure rallied for collective action to thwart what he deemed a deliberate cancellation of the election.
President Sall, who declared he would not seek reelection, had nominated Prime Minister Amadou Ba from his party as his potential successor. However, internal divisions within his party cast doubt on Ba’s electoral prospects.
The exclusion of numerous candidates, including high-profile figures like Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, triggered controversy and legal challenges. Sonko has been incarcerated since July 2023, while Wade’s candidacy was invalidated due to alleged dual citizenship.
Amid these developments, Rose Wardini, a female candidate, was detained on allegations of concealing her French citizenship, further intensifying the electoral turmoil.
The postponement of the presidential election in Senegal reflects a deepening political crisis and underscores the challenges facing the country’s democratic process.
