2024-02-07 15:09:52
After the unexpected decision of the Senegalese president to postpone the presidential election of February 25, 2024, reactions are multiplying within the international community. International organizations and foreign powers have published press releases, most of which have in common the call for respect for the electoral calendar.
On Saturday February 3, Macky Sall announced, in a televised speech, the cancellation of the summons of the electorate for the presidential election scheduled for February 25 and for which the campaign should open the next day. The Senegalese president justified his decision by the pre-electoral context marked by the disqualification of several candidates by the Constitutional Council against the backdrop of accusations of corruption against two of its members. The National Assembly having undertaken to open an investigation into these suspicions, Macky Sall took note of them and decided to suspend the electoral process. “I will initiate an open national dialogue in order to create the conditions for free, transparent and inclusive elections in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal”, then promised the Senegalese president who is not a candidate for his succession, immediately triggering a wave of indignation reactions in his country. His political opponents and civil society organizations as well as academics denounce an unprecedented coup in a Senegal which is an exception in the sub-region in terms of political stability. Clashes took place in several cities between demonstrators and police.
Despite this outcry, the Senegalese parliament ratified the postponement of the presidential election by a vote of deputies close to power taken late in the night of Monday February 5 after the manu militari expulsion of the opponents. The text adopted by the Senegalese parliament postpones the election to December 15, 2024. Macky Sall should therefore remain in power until his successor takes office.
Respect the electoral calendar
The situation has since been closely followed outside Senegal. After a first press release taking note of the postponement, ECOWAS reacted again after the adoption of a new date for the poll. The West African organization “encourages the political class to urgently take the necessary measures to restore the electoral calendar in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Senegal”.
For its part, the African Union requested the organization of elections “as soon as possible”. The President of the AU Commission reacted in a press release on February 4, the day after Macky Sall’s speech.
The International Organization of La Francophonie also says it is concerned about the political tension in Senegal. Its Secretary General called on “national authorities respect the constitutional provisions with regard to the electoral calendar”.
Western diplomacies give voice
Western diplomats are also commenting on the crisis. France, a former colonizing power closely linked to Senegal, reacted on February 4, through astatement from the deputy spokesperson for his Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We call on the authorities to remove the uncertainties around the electoral calendar so that the elections can be held as soon as possible and in compliance with the rules of Senegalese democracy”urged the statement while “The United States is deeply concerned by the measures taken to postpone the presidential election” according to a press release from the US State Department. The postponement of the February 25 presidential election in Senegal will “against the strong democratic tradition” of the country, this is why American diplomacy ““urges the government of Senegal to organize the presidential election in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws”.
In this concert of international reactions, one voice stands out from the tendency to disapprove of Macky Sall’s decision. It is that of his counterpart in Guinea Bissau. In a message posted on “wise decision”.
I extend my sincere congratulations to the President @Macky_Sall of #Senegal for the wise decision, taken this February 3 after consultation, to postpone the presidential elections, with the aim of moving towards more inclusive, fairer and more credible future elections.
— Umaro Sissoco Embaló (@USEmbalo) February 3, 2024
Read also: Macky Sall: the Web comments on the non-candidate of the Senegalese president for a new mandate
#Election #postponed #Senegal #international #community #reacting