Senegal's President Macky Sall has made the unprecedented decision to indefinitely postpone the country's presidential election, originally slated for February 25. The announcement was made in a televised address where Sall revealed the cancellation of the electoral law due to a dispute over the candidate list. This move follows the Constitutional Council's exclusion of key opposition figures from the list last month, raising concerns about the election's integrity.
President Sall stated that he would initiate an open national dialogue to ensure the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal. However, he did not specify a new date for the postponed election.
The decision to delay the vote has sparked mixed reactions. The opposition Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) had formally requested the postponement, citing concerns about the fairness of the candidacy rules. On the other hand, the opposition PASTEF Party criticized the move, considering it a "constitutional coup." PASTEF's vice president, Yassine Fall, accused President Sall of manipulating institutions illegally to maintain power or secure victory for his party.
The electoral process had already faced challenges, with several prominent candidates excluded from the race. The PDS's Karim Wade, in exile in Qatar, and Rose Wardini, currently in detention, were among those barred from running. Notably, PASTEF's leader Ousmane Sonko and his election stand-in, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are also in jail.
Al Jazeera's Nicholas Haque reported from Dakar that President Sall cited various reasons for the election's postponement, including doubts over the electoral process. The exclusion of significant candidates and the incarceration of opposition leaders created an unstable environment in what is traditionally considered one of the most stable democracies in the region.
President Sall emphasized in his address that he would not seek a third term, a point he reiterated to alleviate concerns about his intentions. The postponement marks the first time a Senegalese presidential election has been delayed, leaving the country in a state of uncertainty regarding leadership and the eventual election date.