SENEGAL’S GOVT SETS TO HOLD DELAYED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON MARCH 24

Thu 07 March 2024:

Senegalese voters will select a new president on March 24, according to a statement made by President Macky Sall on Wednesday. This announcement puts an end to weeks of political unrest that gripped the West African nation after elections that were initially set for February 25 were postponed.

On April 2, the day the current president’s term ends, Sall announced the new poll date. That same day, the Constitutional Council declared that holding the presidential election after that date would be unconstitutional.

The Council ruled that the election should be held as soon as possible, opposing recommendations of the national dialogue convened by Sall, which had suggested that the election be held in June.

The Council also maintained a list of 19 candidates nominated in January to participate in the presidential election.

Sall said last month that he will step down when his mandate as president ends on April 2.

The president, who has been in power since 2012, announced the indefinite suspension of the Feb. 25 presidential election on Feb. 3, citing a dispute over the candidate list and alleged corruption of constitutional judges, triggering political chaos in which three people were killed.

The National Assembly then passed a bill postponing the vote until Dec. 15 as security forces stormed the building and removed some opposition lawmakers.

But the Senegalese Constitutional Council declared the law postponing the country’s presidential vote to December “unconstitutional” and annulled his decree to delay the poll.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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