Senegal is grappling with widespread unrest sparked by the President’s announcement of a postponed election, initially slated for later this month.
The country’s top court has now deemed this delay unconstitutional, annulling President Macky Sall’s decree and a contentious parliamentary bill that sought to shift the voting date to December.
Once regarded as a democratic stronghold in West Africa, Senegal finds itself in the midst of widespread protests. Opposition figures are branding the delay as an “institutional coup,” echoing the sentiments of many discontented citizens.
President Sall defended the postponement, citing concerns over the eligibility of opposition candidates. Despite being backed by 105 out of 165 MPs, his proposal faced vehement opposition.
Originally suggesting a six-month delay, a last-minute amendment extended the postponement to 10 months, culminating on December 15.
Sall reiterated that he wouldn’t seek reelection, but critics accused him of attempting to cling to power or manipulate his successor.
Opposition candidates and lawmakers, who vigorously contested the bill through legal channels, now feel vindicated following the Constitutional Court’s decision on Thursday evening.
Khalifa Sall, a prominent opponent and former mayor of Dakar, unrelated to the president, labeled the delay a “constitutional coup.” Another candidate, Thierno Alassane Sall, echoed similar sentiments, branding it “high treason.”
The court deemed it “impossible” to hold the election on the initially scheduled date of February 25, just 10 days away, urging authorities to reschedule it “as soon as possible.” Campaigning has been on hold since President Sall’s February 3 decree, disrupting the electoral landscape.
Coincidentally, on the same day as the court’s decision, several opposition politicians and civil society members were released from prison, perceived by some as a move to pacify public opinion.
Senegal’s reputation as one of the most stable democracies in the region faces a serious challenge. Historically free from military coups, the country had seen three peaceful power transitions until this unexpected delay in a presidential election.
President Sall, in power since 2012, is concluding his second term this April, leaving Senegal at a critical crossroads in its democratic journey.