©Senegalese people read the headlines of the newspapers on sale in a street in Dakar on February 16, 2024. (SEYLLOU / AFP)
Senegal plunged further into the unknown on Friday after the top constitutional body overturned President Macky Sall's contentious decision to postpone this month's presidential election.
It is yet to be seen how and when the vote will now take place, with Sall so far offering no comment on the historic ruling by the Constitutional Council. His staff told the media they had "taken note" of the decision without questioning the verdict, which cannot be appealed. Sall's last-minute move to postpone the February 25 poll triggered Senegal's worst crisis in decades, sparking widespread outcry and prompting deadly protests in what is often seen as a bastion of stability in coup-hit West Africa.Parliament later approved the delay until December 15, but only after security forces entered the building and removed some opposition lawmakers who opposed the bill.
The vote paved the way for Sall — whose second term is due to expire in April — to remain in office until a successor is installed, probably not before 2025.
The Constitutional Council said it was "impossible to organize the presidential election on the initially scheduled date" but invited "the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible."
Three people have been killed during demonstrations against the vote delay, with security forces repressing attempts to mobilize.
Opposition and civil society groups called for fresh protests on Friday and Saturday.
More than 130 opposition and civil society members have been released from prison since Thursday, and around 90 more are due to be freed on Friday, according to the Ministry of Justice.
With AFP
The vote paved the way for Sall — whose second term is due to expire in April — to remain in office until a successor is installed, probably not before 2025.
The Constitutional Council said it was "impossible to organize the presidential election on the initially scheduled date" but invited "the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible."
Three people have been killed during demonstrations against the vote delay, with security forces repressing attempts to mobilize.
Opposition and civil society groups called for fresh protests on Friday and Saturday.
More than 130 opposition and civil society members have been released from prison since Thursday, and around 90 more are due to be freed on Friday, according to the Ministry of Justice.
With AFP
Read more
Comments