Delay of 25 Feb Senegal election ruled illegal: When will the West African country vote now?

Senegal’s Constitutional Council overturned the government’s postponement of presidential election scheduled for 25 February and rescheduling it for 15 December.

The National Assembly’s decision on 5 February announced to reschedule the vote for December.

The delay caused widespread protests and sparked the worst chaos Senegal has seen in years with opposition parties leaders saying it amounted to an “institutional coup”.

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Why Senegal's election is delayed and what it means

At least three people were killed during clashes with security forces during the protests over the postponement of polls that turned deadly over the weekend.

The proposal for delay of polls was made by President Macky Sall and was backed by 105 out of the 165 MPs. A six-month postponement was originally proposed, but a last-minute amendment extended it to 10 months, or 15 December.

‘Contrary to the Constitution’

The judgement said the National Assembly’s decision to reschedule the vote was “contrary to the constitution.”

“The constitutional council, noting the impossibility of organising the presidential election on the date initially planned, invites the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible,” it added.

Will Senegal vote on 25 February?

Earlier the announcement of postponement of election had thrown Senegal into political turmoil and now the court said it was “impossible” for the polling to be held on the originally intended date 25 February with merely 10 days in hand for all the preparations.

The court has, however, urged authorities to organise Senegal election 2024 “as soon as possible”.

President Sall has been in power since 2012, with his second term in office due to end this April.

Why were elections in Senegal postponed?

President Sall pushed the elections for 15 December citing time needed to resolve controversies over the disqualification of some candidates and a conflict between the government’s legislative and judicial branches.

However, critics have accused Mall of clinging on to power, even though he has vowed not to stay in office past the constitutionally bound two terms.

With inputs from agencies