Senegal’s President Macky Sall Faces Backlash Over Election Postponement

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has denied responsibility for the crisis that erupted in the wake of his historic decision to postpone elections.

Sall claimed that no legal or judicial institution has questioned or cast any doubt on the sincerity of actions taken. On the eve of the campaign launch, Sall announced he had signed a decree repealing the law that convened the Senegalese to vote on the February 25 election. Parliament 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. Since gaining independence in 1960, no presidential poll had ever been postponed in Senegal.

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. Critics accused the president of trying to extend his stay in power.