APA-Dakar (Senegal) The West African regional body expresses disquiet over the postponement of Senegal’s presidential elections which were scheduled for later in February.
Senegal’s presidential election will not take place on that date after all.
In an address to the nation on Saturday, February 3, President Sall revoked the decree which mandated the electoral body to conduct the polls on February 25, 2024.
Sall cited the disputes between the National Assembly and the constitutional court, some of whose members have been accused of corruption, the fact that one of the candidates was detained for holding dual citizenship, and the bill presented by the Senegalese Democratic Party calling for the postponement of the election.
He announced that a national dialogue would be held to discuss all these issues, “because Senegal cannot afford any more crises after those of March 2021 and June 2023.”
The postponement has elicited widespread condemnation from politicians and activists in Senegal who criticised it as a constitutional coup.
In a statement the Economic Community of West African States, says it notes with concern the decision taken by Sall to defer the polls and calls on the authorities ”to expedite the various processes in order to set a new date for the elections”.
The regional bloc also commended Mr Sall for sticking to his earlier decision not to run for a third term and encourage him to continue to defend Senegalese democracy.
ARD/ac/lb/as/APA