In a pivotal ruling, Senegal’s Constitutional Council, the country’s top election authority, has overturned the decision to reschedule the upcoming presidential election from February to December, emphasizing it as a direct violation of the constitution.
Endowed with the responsibility of interpreting Senegal’s Constitution, ensuring its implementation, and maintaining the rule of law, the Constitutional Council is an independent body. The country’s President, Macky Sall, has not yet publicly commented on the recent verdict.
Previously, Sall introduced a bill proposing the rescheduling of the presidential election initially set for February 25. This bill was approved by Senegal’s Parliament last week following an electoral dispute regarding a few candidacies in Dakar. Also contributing to this decision were issues regarding the dual nationality of two candidates, which sparked widespread controversy. With opposition leaders and Senegalese legal experts strongly rejecting the postponement, a spate of protests ensued leading to violent incidents, political arrests, along with the resignation of Parliament Members and the implementation of mobile internet restrictions.
The course of the election, whether it will proceed as previously planned or require additional time for political campaigning, remains to be seen. Pierre Goudiaby Atepa, working as a facilitator at President Sall’s request, has stated that the focus is on finding “calming solutions,” but declined to comment on whether or not the court’s decision would be accepted.
The ongoing situation is being closely monitored by the European Union delegation in Senegal. They emphasized the importance of complying with constitutional norms and maintaining an equitable environment for all candidates in Senegal. The delegation also expressed their concern regarding the controversy surrounding the election’s postponement and urged all stakeholders to prioritize national stability and democratic principles.
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