(3 Minutes Read)
Senegal’s president Macky Sall told a broadcasting agency that he was not responsible for the crisis that erupted in Senegal in the wake of his historic decision to postpone elections. He asserted that no legal or judicial institution has questioned or cast any doubt on the sincerity of actions that were taken
Senegal’s president Macky Sall told a broadcasting agency that he was not responsible for the crisis that erupted in Senegal in the wake of his historic decision to postpone elections. He asserted that no legal or judicial institution has questioned or cast any doubt on the sincerity of actions that were taken.
Macky cited controversies over the disqualification of some candidates and allegations of corruption in election-related cases for postponing the elections to be held in February initially. It may be recalled that on February 5 as reported by www.trendsnafrica.com, on the eve of the launch of the presidential election campaign, President Macky Sall said that he had signed a decree repealing the law that convened the Senegalese to vote on February 25.
On February 5, parliament which is dominated by the ruling party backed a delay until December and voted to keep Sall in power until his successor takes office. However, the nation’s top election authority ruled the move unconstitutional on February 15 and urged competent authorities to hold elections as soon as possible.
The announcement of the president on February 3rd came after the establishment of a parliamentary commission by the party of Karim Wade, the son of former president Abdoulaye Wade. This was an unprecedented event since Senegal gained independence in 1960. In late January, opposition lawmakers wished to investigate the integrity of two judges from the Constitutional Council: The parliamentary inquiry was eventually closed and the prosecutor launched a legal investigation following a complaint by one of the judges. Wade, the aspiring candidate of the PDS party, had been barred from contesting for the presidency.
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Critics accused the president of trying to extend his stay in power. This triggered deadly protests. Senegalese living abroad also took to the streets. In France where a large community lives, protests were held across major cities including Paris and Bordeaux. Macky Sall then convened a dialogue to ease tensions. During the two-day event, participants proposed a new election date. On March 6, the president eventually announced the first round of the presidential election would take place on March 24.
