Senegal Unrest Demystified:
Senegalese President Macky Sall has committed to promptly scheduling a presidential election, acknowledging a court’s ruling that declared the unconstitutional postponement of the slated initially February 25 poll to December. The decision to adhere to the constitutional council’s judgment comes in response to urging from the opposition and foreign powers, aiming to alleviate tensions and assuage concerns about authoritarian overreach in one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, which has recently experienced a coup.
President Sall, aged 62 and ineligible for re-election due to reaching the constitutional limit of two terms in power, cited a dispute over the candidate list and alleged corruption within the constitutional council as reasons for the postponement. The council, however, has refuted the corruption allegations. In a surprise address to the nation just hours before the official start of campaigning on February 4, Sall expressed concern that the contentious conditions surrounding the election could undermine its credibility and lead to pre- and post-electoral disputes.
The opposition Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), whose candidate faced exclusion from the final list due to dual nationality issues, supported the delay and presented a bill for postponement in parliament before Sall’s announcement.
However, not all opposition factions agree with the delay. Some opposition parties and civil society groups have vehemently rejected the postponement, accusing Sall of orchestrating an “institutional coup” to extend his tenure. In response to the delay, several of the 20 presidential candidates and a group of opposition lawmakers lodged legal challenges with the constitutional council. The situation underscores the complex political dynamics and debates surrounding the electoral process in Senegal.
