Senegal : Macky Sall keeps the presidential election date uncertain

In Senegal, Macky Sall has still not announced a new date for the presidential election initially scheduled for February 25th. The Constitutional Council declared null and void the law passed by the deputies of the presidential movement postponing the election to December 15th, 2024.

Facing the press on Thursday, the Senegalese president indicated that the election date will be decided following a dialogue involving all political actors.

Macky Sall has agreed to organize the presidential election before December 15th, contrary to his decree issued on February 3rd and the law passed in the assembly. The successor to Abdoulaye Wade then committed to respecting the decision of the Constitutional Council and to organizing « without delay the necessary consultations for the organization of the presidential election as soon as possible ».

During a press conference on Thursday, he promised to start consultations on February 25th with the Senegalese political class for two days to set the date of the next election in case of consensus.

« As for the election date, we will see what the dialogue proposes », said Macky Sall before a group of journalists, adding, « The election can take place before or after April 2nd », while acknowledging that his term ends on April 2nd.

The postponement of the presidential election was announced by Macky Sall on the eve of the start of the electoral campaign. Many stakeholders in this election were fully prepared to launch themselves. For them, there was no need for any dialogue.

According to Thierno Alassane Sall from the opposition, the dialogue would be an opportunity for the Head of State to invite individuals carefully selected for their divergent positions. « Dealing with him to postpone the elections and grant widespread amnesty would be betraying the sacrifice of the young people who died opposing the postponement of the election », he declared.

Ramatou Diallo