Police fired tear gas outside the Senegal Parliament on Monday to disperse protesters who took to the streets in anger after the presidential elections were postponed indefinitely.
President Macky Sall announced that the elections would be delayed due to disputes over the eligibility of candidates vying for the country’s top seat.
The government had earlier cut access to the internet on mobile phones to prevent the spread of hateful messages and other communication that could incite violence.
Members of parliament are set to debate a bill that would enable the rescheduling of the presidential elections for six months.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reacted to the directive of Senegal’s leader Macky Sall to postpone the presidential elections earlier scheduled to be held on February 25.
The postponement, which marks the first time in the country’s history, sparked protests and clashes between the supporters of opposition parties and law enforcement agencies in the capital of Dakar.
The ECOWAS released a statement through its verified X (Twitter) handle to express concern over the turn of events in Senegal.
“The ECOWAS Commission expresses concern over the circumstances that have led to the postponement of the elections and appeals to the competent authorities to expedite the various processes in order to set a new date for the elections,” the ECOWAS communique partly read.
Presidential candidates, defying the official postponement, declared the launch of their campaigns on the same day.
The RFM opposition party categorically rejected the delay, vowing to mobilise the Senegalese people for a defiant march.
Opposition figures, including former mayor Khalifa Sall, called for unity among pro-democratic forces to confront what they deem a constitutional coup.