By Ken Afor
After weeks of delays and postponement of the presidential election in Senegal, the country’s constitutional council has approved President Macky Sall’s March 24, 2024, date for the exercise.
This comes against the background of the postponement of the poll by President Sall, which was originally scheduled for February 25, 2024.
Prior to Thursday’s approval of the poll, the constitutional council had on Wednesday fixed the election for March 31, but instead, it opted for Sall’s date.
In a statement released by the constitutional council, it took action to address delays in organizing elections by fixing March 31.
However, it also implies that the council expects the executive to take steps to resolve the issue further by issuing decrees to convene the electoral body by March 24.
According to the statement, the decrees issued by President Sall meet the requirement to hold the election before he leaves office on April 2.
The council acknowledges this compliance, suggesting that it would help alleviate the crisis caused by the delay in scheduling the presidential election.
It would be recalled that President Sall decided to postpone the election following disputes over disqualified candidates and concerns about potential unrest in the country.
The delay sparked significant domestic and international outcry, leading to protests that resulted in four fatalities.
Senegal, one of West Africa’s stable democracies, is entering what could be its most openly contested presidential election in modern history.
