Abidjan: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged the Senegalese authorities to maintain the presidential election initially scheduled for the end of the current month, instead of the delay by 10 months in line with an unprecedented decision in one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

This recommendation made on Thursday February 8, 2024, comes as the United Nations human rights office expresses its concerns regarding this situation.

President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the February 25 vote due to an electoral dispute between Parliament and the judiciary concerning certain candidates. The move was sharply criticized by opposition leaders and candidates who called it a constitutional ‘coup.’

The opposition also condemned the fact that several MPs were prevented from voting when the election date was revised to December. Macky Sall’s mandate was initially scheduled to end on April 2.

ECOWAS encourages the Senegalese political class to ‘take urgent measures to restore the el
ectoral calendar in accordance with the provisions of the Senegalese constitution’.

The presidential election in Senegal has never been postponed before. However, the constitution authorizes the Constitutional Council, the highest electoral authority, to postpone the vote in certain exceptional circumstances, it is reported.

Source: Burkina Information Agency