Senegal’s Constitutional Council made a groundbreaking decision on Thursday by reversing the postponement of the presidential election scheduled for this month. President Macky Sall’s earlier decision to delay the February 25 poll had plunged Senegal into its most significant crisis in decades, triggering widespread outcry and leading to fatal protests. Despite Parliament’s subsequent approval of the delay until December 15, achieved after security forces forcibly removed opposing lawmakers, the move had ramifications, allowing Sall to remain in office beyond his term’s expiry in April, potentially until 2025.
The Constitutional Council declared the parliamentary decision to postpone the vote unconstitutional, along with annulling Sall’s February 3 decree that modified the electoral calendar merely three weeks before the scheduled election. While acknowledging the impossibility of organizing the presidential election on the initially planned date, the Council urged the competent authorities to conduct it as soon as possible. The opposition condemned Sall’s actions, labeling the delay as a “constitutional coup,” alleging his party’s fear of defeat at the ballot box.
The ensuing delay led to violent protests resulting in three casualties and numerous arrests. Opposition figures, including former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, who recently joined the opposition, welcomed the Constitutional Council’s decision, emphasizing its significance in restoring Senegal’s political trajectory. Dethie Fall, an opposition presidential candidate, expressed satisfaction with the ruling.
Senegal’s major international partners urged the government to expedite the election, fearing potential violent unrest. In response, opposition and civil society groups issued fresh calls for demonstrations, scheduling a peaceful march organized by a civil society collective for Saturday. Faced with mounting public anger, President Sall expressed a desire for “appeasement and reconciliation.” The Constitutional Council, in reiterating the fixed nature of the five-year presidential term, emphasized the adherence to established constitutional principles.
The Council’s decision coincided with the release of several detained government opponents, seemingly as an attempt by Sall to address public concerns. Lawyers reported the release of many individuals involved in politically motivated cases. Opposition figures, including Aliou Sane and Djamil Sane, associated with the “Y’en a marre” movement and the dissolved opposition party Pastef, were among those released. The move was seen as a response to international pressure, with some viewing it as a bargaining chip for the stability of the country.
Ongoing uncertainty surrounds prominent opposition figures, Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who have been detained since 2023. While their possible release remains uncertain, public sentiments suggest a determination to continue the fight for political change, emphasizing resilience against perceived injustices. The release of opposition members follows a broader pattern of arrests since 2021, coinciding with Sonko’s standoff with the government, leading to deadly unrest.
