Senegal Sets New Election Date Amidst Political Turmoil

Senegalese President Macky Sall has officially announced that the country’s presidential election will be held on a new date, March 24, 2024, following a controversial decision to postpone the initial date of February 25. The announcement comes after weeks of unrest and protests sparked by the president’s earlier attempt to delay the election.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the government confirmed the election date and outlined President Sall’s decision-making process. “The President of the Republic informed the Council of Ministers that the date of the presidential election has been set for Sunday, March 24, 2024,” the statement read.

The initial postponement had led to widespread demonstrations, with angry youths taking to the streets and burning tyres to express their discontent. Senegal’s Constitutional Council, however, intervened, asserting that the election must be held before April 2, the expiration of Sall’s second and final term.

In response to the political turmoil, President Sall took further steps by dissolving the government and appointing Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba to replace sitting Prime Minister Amadou Ba. The move aimed to allow Ba, the ruling coalition’s presidential candidate, to focus on his electoral campaign.

Former Prime Minister Aminata Touré, who switched to the opposition, expressed hope for fair elections following the announcement. “What we are looking forward to now is fair, just, and transparent elections. That is the last duty that President Macky Sall has to fulfil,” Touré told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

Senegal, often regarded as one of the most stable democracies in Africa, has a history of avoiding military coups. However, recent political events have tested the nation’s stability, with attempts to postpone the election leading to deadly unrest.

Lawmakers also passed an amnesty law for crimes related to the protests, further fueling controversy. Critics argue that the law may shield perpetrators of serious crimes, including security forces implicated in protester deaths, as well as President Sall himself. Supporters contend that the law could benefit the opposition, potentially leading to the release of prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.

Sonko, a key figure in the campaign against Sall, was imprisoned in 2023 on what he claimed were politically motivated charges aimed at barring him from the presidential race. Despite the political reforms and the amnesty law, the list of eligible candidates remains unchanged, preventing Sonko from participating in the upcoming election.

Yacine Fall, vice-president of Sonko’s Pastef party, expressed relief at the announcement of the election date. “Unfortunately, Ousmane Sonko had been illegally prevented from being a candidate, but we are still happy to see that Pastef… has a candidate,” she said, expressing hope for a fair electoral process.

However, challenges persist for the opposition, with Bassirou Diomaye, the potential candidate for Pastef, currently incarcerated. Pastef itself has been banned on charges of inciting insurrection. Another leading opposition figure, Karim Wade, is also excluded from the list of approved candidates, further complicating the political landscape just over a fortnight before the election.

Mimi Mefo Info