On Sunday, Senegalese presidential candidates participated in a symbolic vote arranged by a civil society organization to protest the delayed presidential election, originally scheduled for that day.
Candidates discreetly placed their ballots in a box marked with the words “RIP 25 February.”
Presidential contender and former Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall voiced strong opposition, stating, “we cannot accept, with the stroke of a pen, being deprived of what is essential to us, that is to say, our freedom and democracy, and above all our ability to elect our leaders,” said presidential candidate and former Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall.
“It hurts me a lot to see that our rights have been trampled on to bring us back today to an uncertain process,” said protester Ibrahim Deme.
Despite a ban on their demonstration, some young Senegalese protesters gathered in Dakar, expressing discontent over the postponement.
Protester Ibrahim Deme lamented, “It hurts me a lot to see that our rights have been trampled on to bring us back today to an uncertain process.”
Senegalese President Macky Sall announced the vote’s postponement on February 3, triggering opposition-led protests, clashes with security forces, arrests, and mobile internet cuts.
These events intensified political tensions in one of Africa’s historically stable democracies.
This year’s election, marred by controversies, included deadly protests leading President Sall to announce he wouldn’t seek a third term and the disqualification of two opposition leaders.