Following the decision, protests resumed in the streets of Senegal as President Macky Sall delayed the elections, which were initially scheduled for February 25. No alternative date has been announced by the government, leaving the country in a state of uncertainty. The opposition has labeled Sall’s move a constitutional coup, pointing to a rift between the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Constitutional Council after the publication of a controversial list of candidates and alleging irregularities in the opposition’s process.
In a televised address, Sall announced plans for an open national dialogue aimed at creating conditions for free, transparent, and inclusive elections. He reiterated that his government had no intention of fielding a candidate in the next vote. The move unsettled opposition groups, who view it as a ploy to maintain the presidency. Although his term would ordinarily end in early April, doubts persist that Sall could extend his grip on power without a new election date, which remains unspecified.
The postponement sparked renewed political tension across the country. On Sunday, hundreds demonstrated against the president, with security forces using tear gas to disperse crowds. Media outlets reported that Anta Babacar Ngom, a presidential candidate, was arrested for participating in the demonstrations. By Monday, police again dispersed groups gathered outside the National Assembly, where lawmakers were debating the bill delaying the vote.
Internet access in the country came under state control, and in Dakar, authorities restricted motorcycle circulation for the day, according to Jeune Afrique and other outlets. regional and continental bodies, including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, urged swift measures to ensure a timely electoral process and urged accountability and speed in resolving the electoral dispute.
Debate over electoral lists
The crisis began to crystallize after the final candidate lists were published, with some parties accusing a candidate of dual nationality as being on the roster. The constitution restricts presidential eligibility to individuals who hold Senegalese citizenship only. Last week, the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved the formation of a commission to investigate the episode and determine what happened, with a clear focus on the integrity of the process.
Controversy over the candidate lists has persisted, as several contenders were excluded. Only 20 of the original 93 applicants remained on the final list. One notable absence is Ousmane Sonko, the main rival of the incumbent, who has been in prison since last summer amid several criminal proceedings and charges including influencing youth and provoking protests in Dakar last June.
Another prominent figure left out of the race is Karim Wade. The Constitutional Council ruled that his dual citizenship disqualified him due to not renouncing his French passport in time. Wade criticized the council for excluding his candidacy, arguing that the body should not be used to bar candidates who have renounced dual citizenship while allowing others to run. He called for urgent reforms to the electoral framework and criticized the delays in the process, insisting that the country deserves a fair and timely vote.