In Senegal, President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential elections indefinitely

This is the first time since 1963 that presidential elections by direct universal suffrage have been postponed in Senegal. During a speech to the nation on Saturday, February 3, Senegalese President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential elections scheduled for February 25 indefinitely. The announcement comes a few hours before the opening of the election campaign.

“I signed the decree […] cancellation [celui] Invitation to the Electoral College » It was announced on February 25, after the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate two judges in the Constitutional Council whose integrity in the electoral process was questionable.

On the other hand, the Constitutional Council, which approved a list of twenty candidates for the presidential elections, excluded dozens of contenders, including two opposition leaders, the anti-regime candidate Ousmane Sonko, and Karim Wade, the minister and son of the former president. Abdullah Wade (2000-2012). On Wednesday, after heated discussions, the National Assembly agreed to form an investigation committee into the operation.

A large number of members of the presidential camp voted for him. This support has caused problems, as opponents of the outgoing president fear a plan to postpone the presidential elections because the government fears losing them.

Macky Sall promised not to run again

President Macky Sall, who was elected in 2012 for a seven-year term and re-elected in 2019 for a five-year term, announced in July that he was not a candidate. He reiterated on Saturday that he will not run for president. “I will begin an open national dialogue in order to create conditions for holding free, transparent and inclusive elections.”Mr. Sall said in his speech, without mentioning a date.

The former ruling party and its rejected candidate, Karim Wade, announced that they had submitted their candidacy to the National Assembly on Friday “A draft law on postponement.” For the presidential elections scheduled for February 25. “Our parliamentary initiative is driven by numerous incidents and protests that distorted the electoral process and highlighted serious imbalances.” And “And even more so with the exclusion of candidates.”The Senegalese Democratic Party, which leads a parliamentary group of 27 deputies, out of 165 in the National Assembly, said in a press release.