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Senegal finally holds presidential election after delay
Africa: Senegal
Primer on presidential election in Senegal
(Feb. 25, 2024 - delayed to March 24, 2024)
Background
Senegal was preparing for presidential elections scheduled for Feb. 25, 2024. The elections were marked by controversy, with notable incidents involving key opposition figures and legal challenges.
Of note? Tensions soared on Feb. 17, 2023, when opposition candidate Ousmane Sonko was forcibly taken from his vehicle during rallies outside a Dakar courthouse where his trial was taking place. The opposition leader was in court facing a civil lawsuit filed by Senegal's tourism minister for defamation and public insults. The incident fueled concerns about political repression and raised questions about the fairness of the legal proceedings against Sonko.
In response to a series of protests following Sonko's conviction for "immoral behavior" in a separate case, incumbent President Macky Sall announced on July 3, 2023 that he would not seek re-election for a third term. Sall's decision had significant implications for Senegal's political landscape, opening the door for new contenders to vie for the presidency.
On July 14, 2023, Ousmane Sonko was officially announced as the presidential candidate for the PASTEF party. However, questions arose about Sonko's eligibility due to a two-year prison sentence he received in June 2023. Legal experts debated whether this rendered him ineligible to run, adding an element of uncertainty to his candidacy.
In a surprising turn of events, PASTEF designated its secretary-general, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as their candidate for the election on Nov. 19, 2023. Faye had been imprisoned since April 2023 for criticizing the conduct of Sonko's defamation trial on social media. The decision to nominate an incarcerated candidate reflected the complex political landscape in Senegal.
In December 2023, a court ordered Sonko's reinstatement to the voters' list, allowing him to file his candidacy. However, the legal battles did not end there.
In January 2024, candidate Thierno Alassane Sall filed a complaint against fellow candidate Karim Wade, alleging dual French-Senegalese nationality. In response, Wade, the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, renounced his French citizenship, addressing concerns raised during the electoral process.
Senegalese president postpones election indefinitely -
Senegal, known for its stability in West Africa, faced a major political crisis as President Macky Sall announced the indefinite delay of the presidential election, initially scheduled for Feb. 25, 2024. The delay added uncertainty to Senegal's democratic image, known for its stability in a region grappling with coups.
The postponement followed a contentious dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court regarding the rejection of several candidates. The rejection of the candidacies of prominent opposition candidates fueled allegations of opposition suppression. Notably, firebrand anti-establishment figure, Ousmane Sonko, a favorite among young people, was excluded due to his imprisonment since July 2023. Sonko, a vocal critic of the government, finished third in the 2019 presidential election. His party's formal dissolution and exclusion from the current election contribute to concerns about a crackdown on political dissent.
The Constitutional Court's decision also affected Karim Wade, son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, who was barred due to alleged French citizenship, and Rose Wardini, who was detained on charges of hiding her French citizenship.
President Sall's decision to delay the election raised eyebrows both domestically and internationally. The U.S. State Department expressed deep concern, urging peaceful engagement to set a new date and ensure conditions for a timely, free, and fair election. The West African regional bloc ECOWAS echoed these concerns, calling on authorities to expedite the processes leading to a new election date.
President Sall's decision to delay the election plunged Senegal into uncharted constitutional waters, potentially destabilizing the country. While there were no immediate protests erupted in the capital, Dakar, concerns arose about the impact on the nation's stability. That concern was legitimized when Salt said the election would be delayed until mid-December 2024, triggering violent protests.
The call for a parliamentary inquiry into the partiality of judges on the Constitutional Court added another layer of complexity to the situation.
In February 2024, President Sall announced his intention to leave office when his term ends on April 2, 2024, amidst lingering tensions over the change in the election date. Sall proposed political talks to determine a new election timeframe, but opposition leaders refused to participate, exacerbating the unrest. Sixteen presidential hopefuls and several civil society organizations went so far as the expressly boycott the proposed dialogue.
Despite pressure to announce a new date after Senegal's highest court deemed the postponement illegal, Sall cited insufficient time to hold elections before his term ended. He pledged to release opposition figure Ousmane Sonko from prison as a gesture of goodwill. However, critics remained skeptical, suspecting further delays. Sall, who promised not to overstay when first elected in 2012, faced scrutiny over Senegal's democratic reputation amid the turmoil.
Ultimately, the elections in Senegal ensued on March 24, 2024, with a potential second round to be held at the end of the month if no one candidate secured an absolute majority.
The election on March 24, 2024 featured 17 candidates including one woman, although the main contenders were former Prime Minister Amadou Ba and anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Ba, representing the governing coalition, represented continuity, while Faye advocated for profound change and left-wing pan-Africanism.
Both candidates, who were once tax inspectors, positioned themselves as appealing choices for young voters in a country where half the population was under 20.
The aforementioned opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, had been barred from standing due to a defamation conviction. Nevertheless, he was exerting his political influence and threw his support behind Faye, emphasizing the need for change.
With the vote counting continuing at the time of writing, incumbent President Macky Sall cautioned against premature victory claims. Nevertheless, the Faye camp was claiming victory.
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