The long suspense over the holding of the Senegalese presidential election has not been lifted.

The current president, Macky Sall, did not comment on the date of the election on Thursday, February 22, which he had decreed to be postponed, while ensuring that his mandate at the head of the country would end as planned on April 2.

President Sall, in power since 2012, dispelled in an interview with some Senegalese media the uncertainties over his departure at the end of his mandate, but not those over the holding, before or after April 2, of this election, the The postponement caused one of the most serious political crises his country has faced in decades.

Faced with current tensions, he suspended the decision on the date of the election to a dialogue that he intends to lead from Monday, and affirmed his desire for appeasement.

He openly considered the possibility of releases for the two anti-system opponents Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye. 

“As for the date, we will see what the dialogue will propose,” he said during an interview with the Senegalese press, referring to the political dialogue that he intends to lead from Monday.

“The election can be held before or after April 2,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of it being held between now and April 2, he replied “I don’t think so”. 

As far as he is concerned, “on April 2, 2024, my mission ends at the head of Senegal,” he declared, showing himself to be stung by the suspicion that he could seek to stay in office longer. provided that.

Macky Sall

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Senegal, readily praised for its stability and democratic practices, although having experienced serious political unrest in the past, has been plunged into the unknown since the decision in early February by President Sall and the National Assembly to postpone until 15 December the presidential election scheduled for February 25.

This postponement, denounced as a "constitutional coup d'état" by the opposition, caused a commotion in public opinion and demonstrations which left four dead.

Also readViolence in Senegal: the government and the opposition blame each other

Last week, the Constitutional Council vetoed this postponement and the retention of President Sall in his post until the installation of his successor.

The Council noted the impossibility of maintaining the presidential election on February 25 and asked the authorities to organize it “as soon as possible”.

Despite speculation about the temptation to force a move, President Sall said the next day his intention to respect the Council's decision and to carry out "without delay the necessary consultations" for the organization of the vote. 

Since then, nothing has officially filtered out of the discussions he allegedly held, despite statements to the press from personalities saying they had played good offices, including with Ousmane Sonko, the main character in a standoff with the state which has given rise to several episodes of deadly protests since 2021.

Ousmane Sonko has been imprisoned since July 2023 and was disqualified from the presidential election.

But the candidacy of his second, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, also detained, was validated by the Constitutional Council.

Macky Sall said he was “ready” to release Ousmane Sonko before the presidential election.

A fragile relaxation

President Sall asked Wednesday in the Council of Ministers that "all arrangements" be taken "for a good organization of the presidential election on a date which will be fixed very soon, after consultations with political actors, society leaders civilian and representatives of the active forces".

He asked the Ministry of Justice to finalize texts "to materialize the desire for reconciliation and forgiveness."

Several hundred detainees have been released since last week, contributing to a fragile detente.

But civil society, which mobilized several thousand people last weekend, has planned a new rally for Saturday in Dakar to maintain pressure on those in power, just like the presidential camp to support Macky Sall.

Read alsoSenegal: “There has been consternation since the Assembly approved the postponement of the presidential election”

The Bassirou Diomaye Faye camp accused the president on Wednesday evening of dragging his feet, as did the vast majority of the 19 candidates selected by the Constitutional Council. 

The opposition suspects the presidential camp of wanting to settle with the calendar for fear of the defeat of its candidate, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, designated by President Sall to succeed him. 

She suspects a maneuver to keep Macky Sall in power, although he has said he does not want to run for a third term.

With AFP

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