Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, has pledged to uphold the law and refrain from extending his mandate beyond April 2nd.
Despite postponing the presidential election for 10 months due to unresolved disputes over eligible candidates, his decision was deemed illegal by the Constitutional Court.
Sall addressed the nation on live television on Thursday, February 22nd.
“Having been sworn in on 2 April 2019, 2 April 2024 completes the five-year calendar, so that’s the end of the Mandate. And I intend to stop at this mandate. After April 2, I intend to step down as President of the Republic.”
Sall’s statements follow the ruling coalition’s decision to prolong his tenure in early February.
During the session, certain opposition lawmakers departed as the national assembly rearranged the election date for December.
Opposition factions continue to exert pressure on Sall, who announced plans to engage in discussions next week.
“The country cannot remain without a President of the Republic. The forthcoming dialogue will certainly have to decide or propose whether a consensus can be reached on the way forward. I hope that the [political] players who are to gather around me to look at the nation’s best interests […] I’ll listen to what the dialogue has to say, and after the dialogue, the Constitutional Council will certainly be able to clarify things.”
Fifteen out of the twenty candidates endorsed to participate in the postponed presidential elections have joined together to demand that the vote take place by April 2nd at the latest.
While Senegal has long been regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, disagreements surrounding the election have triggered a political crisis, leading to violent protests.
Security forces have reportedly killed at least three individuals and injured dozens in the unrest.