The United States has welcomed a significant court ruling in Senegal, which overturned the postponement of the country’s presidential election to December, urging for a new “free and fair election” to be conducted at the earliest opportunity.
The decision to push back the February 25 poll, which had cast a shadow of uncertainty over the electoral process, was overturned on Thursday by Senegal’s Constitutional Council. This move has been met with praise from various quarters, including the US government.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, in response to the court’s decision, expressed his full commitment to abide by it, asserting his pledge to initiate consultations aimed at organising the vote promptly.
The State Department, in a statement, commended President Sall’s commitment and urged all stakeholders to unite in upholding Senegal’s democratic principles by supporting a peaceful and timely election process.
Acknowledging the ruling of the Constitutional Council, President Sall emphasised his readiness to facilitate the necessary consultations for the timely organisation of the election. However, he did not specify a date for the vote, as it is typically scheduled by a presidential decree.
Opposition leaders have advocated for the election to take place before April 2, coinciding with the expiry of Sall’s mandate.
The compliance of the authorities with the constitutional council’s decision has been widely endorsed by both the opposition and foreign powers, alleviating concerns of authoritarian tendencies in one of West Africa’s more stable democracies.
Notably, Senegal has never previously delayed a presidential vote, and President Sall, having reached the constitutional limit of two terms, is not seeking re-election.
The unfolding events in Senegal reflect a pivotal moment for the nation’s democratic process, with international observers closely monitoring the developments as the country navigates towards a decisive and timely presidential election.
