When will the presidential elections take place in Senegal? The question has been raised for weeks and the postponement of the vote was decided by President Macky Sall. The epilogue could take place this Tuesday, while the national dialogue takes place against the backdrop of protests and calls for a general strike.
Published on: February 27, 2024 – 8:30 am
3 mins
With our correspondent in Dakar, Thea Ollivier
The dialogue began with an announcement of the amnesty law that will be tabled by President Macky Sall in the Council of Ministers tomorrow, Wednesday. An amnesty covering facts related to political demonstrations between 2021 and 2024.
Read alsoSenegal: President Macky Sall announces amnesty law amid presidential crisis
A first gesture of appeasement at the start of a national dialogue that seeks to bring together the “living forces of the nation”, namely political leaders, civil society, trade unions, employers as well as religious leaders and customs.
Of the candidates selected by the Constitutional Council for the presidential election, only two followed President Macky Sall's call: Amadou Bathe current Prime Minister and candidate of the presidential camp and Boune Abdallah Dionnea former head of government
Many of those who failed have expressed their position, for example the democratic party PDS of former President Abdoulaye Wade, his son Karim Wade is the candidate. They are demanding a full resumption of the electoral process so that their candidate can take part in the next election.
What about the other candidates confirmed by the Constitutional Council?
Fifteen of the 19 confirmed candidates who did not take part in the dialogue yesterday, Monday, submitted an appeal to the Constitutional Council to put pressure on the vote to take place before April 2, the date that marks the end of Macky Sall's mandate.
Read also: Presidential election in Senegal: 16 candidates and the Aar Sunu electoral collective reject the dialogue proposed by Macky Sall
Pope Djibril falls did not want to appeal, but did not enter into dialogue either. And Idrissa Seckformer President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, finally came to the dialogue.
What follow-up to the dialogue?
Today the technical commissions meet from the early morning of election day and after April 2nd, the end of Macky Sall's mandate.
At the end of the day, the actors have to make decisions to the head of state. The latter undertook to respect them and to sign a decree convening the electoral body.
Meanwhile, mobilization on the streets continues. Several political or civil society demonstrations were organized last weekend, as well as several symbolic votes this Sunday, February 25, the date originally scheduled for the presidential elections. Civil society actors and some of the presidential election candidates therefore voted to apply pressure so that the presidential election can be held as quickly as possible.
Read alsoSenegal: Opposition and civil society still take to the streets to demand elections
A general strike has also been announced for tomorrow, Wednesday.