Senegal‘s leader, President Macky Sall has pledged to expedite the long-awaited election to select his heir, following a constitutional rebuke of his bid to postpone the process.
Sall, having served two terms, saw his plans thwarted by the Constitutional Council on Thursday, which nullified his attempt to reschedule the election for December.
Furthermore, the Constitutional Council invalidated the contentious legislation passed by parliament in support of the president’s decree, a step towards rebuilding Senegal’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa.
Following his announcement to postpone the elections two weeks ago, just hours before the commencement of campaigns, President Sall has come under increasing pressure to overturn his decision.
The persistent pressure seems to have borne fruit, as a statement from the presidency announces Mr. Sall’s adherence to the court ruling. Furthermore, it underscores his pledge to promptly convene discussions with key stakeholders to facilitate the earliest possible elections.
Given the initial date of February 25th, there isn’t adequate time to conduct the elections then. Although a new date hasn’t been determined, the Constitutional Council’s decision clarified that the president’s tenure cannot extend beyond the expiration of his term on April 2nd.
The decision garnered support from various quarters, including the West African body, Ecowas, alongside France and the European Union, all calling on Mr. Sall to comply with the ruling. Senegal’s judiciary received commendation for upholding its independence, with a prominent opposition figure celebrating Thursday’s court ruling as “a significant milestone for democracy.”
“We’ve been so ashamed by all this violation of the law and the constitution,” former Prime Minister Aminata Touré told the BBC’s Newsday programme.
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Anta Babacar, the only female candidate, agreed.
“We are actually very, very proud of our Constitutional Council and it shows that there is at least a little bit of democracy and justice that’s left in our country,” she said.
There had been strong opposition to Mr Sall’s decision to postpone the elections until mid-December. Protesters have taken to the streets and opposition politicians have lodged legal complaints against him.
Religious authorities and regional bodies have added their voices to the call for elections to be conducted at the earliest opportunity.
Efforts to resolve the disputes continue, but the underlying issues that prompted the postponement of the polls remain unresolved. These include allegations of corruption within the Constitutional Council and objections from opposition figures excluded from the candidate list published last month.
Proceeding with the election using the disputed candidate list may incite renewed unrest and violence, particularly among supporters of individuals prevented from running, notably Ousmane Sonko, who enjoys widespread support among young Senegalese. Sonko is currently incarcerated after facing convictions he alleges are politically motivated.
The issuance of President Sall’s decree earlier this month has resulted in a suspension of campaigning by most candidates.
Renowned for its stability, Senegal stands out as one of West Africa’s most enduring democracies, having never fallen victim to a military coup unlike its regional counterparts.