Senegal’s Constitutional Council on Thursday overturned the postponement of this month’s presidential election, a historic decision that opens up a realm of uncertainty for the traditionally stable West African nation.
President Sall’s decision earlier this month to postpone the February 25 poll plunged Senegal into its worst crisis in decades, sparking widespread outcry and prompting deadly protests.
Parliament later approved the delay until December 15, but only after security forces stormed the building and removed some opposition lawmakers who opposed the bill.
The vote paved the way for Sall — whose second term was due to expire in April — to remain in office until a successor is installed, probably not before 2025.
Senegal’s Constitutional Council said the law adopted by parliament to delay the vote was unconstitutional, according to a document authenticated by a source within the institution.
The constitutional body also annulled Sall’s February 3 decree that modified the electoral calendar just three weeks before the vote.
The Council said it was “impossible to organise the presidential election on the initially scheduled date” but invited “the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible”.
The opposition has decried Sall’s move to delay the vote as a “constitutional coup”, saying his party feared defeat at the ballot box.
It prompted violent protests during which three people were killed and dozens arrested.
Senegal’s major international partners also condemned the move and called on the government to hold the election as soon as possible, fearing violent unrest.
Opposition and civil society groups have issued new calls for demonstrations on Friday.
A peaceful march organised by a civil society collective is planned for Saturday.
Faced with mounting public anger, President Sall expressed a desire to find ways of obtaining “appeasement and reconciliation”.
The Constitutional Council on Thursday reiterated the fixed nature of the five-year presidential term.