Senegal's parliament voted on Monday to postpone the West African country's presidential election until December 15, in a chaotic voting process. This action was taken after security forces succeeded in thwarting the opposition's attempt to block the voting process in parliament, and expelled members of parliament from the council building.
Also on Monday, two opposition candidates filed a legal challenge against President Macky Sall's decision to postpone the election which was due to be held on February 25.
One of the provisions of the Election Postponement Bill, adopted by the National Assembly, means that Sall's term – which was due to end on April 2 – will be extended until new elections are held.
Sall announced in July last year that he would not seek a third term in office.
The African Union called on the Senegalese government to organize elections “as soon as possible” and urged opposition candidates “to resolve any political impasse through consultations, mutual understanding and civil dialogue”.
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko (centre) votes in Ziguinchor on July 3, 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Demonstrations broke out outside the parliament building on Sunday. Security forces fired tear gas as demonstrators burned tires, blocked roads and chanted “Macki Sall the dictator”. A number of demonstrators were arrested, along with two opposition candidates, including former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, who were later released.
Political stability in Senegal has been fragile for almost a year after authorities cut off internet access in June 2023, when supporters of a disqualified opposition leader clashed with security forces.
This is the first time in Senegal's history that presidential elections have been postponed. Opposition leaders have condemned Sall's decision to postpone as an act of “coup”.
Experts worry that the postponement of the election “reflects a sharp decline for democracy” in Senegal, said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.
“The deficit in democratic growth does not threaten to tarnish Senegal's reputation as a beacon of democratic stability in the region, but also fosters anti-democratic practices in the West African region,” Durmaz told the Associated Press.
Senegal often receives praise for its stability in the West African region. The country has not experienced a coup since gaining independence from France in the 1960s. However, the reaction in response to recent demonstrations has not inspired confidence in the country's ability to manage its political and economic stability. The country's dollar bonds have fallen drastically.
On Monday, the Senegalese government also restricted mobile internet access.
And the private Walf television network, whose signal was cut while broadcasting Sunday's demonstration, said its broadcast license had been revoked.
“The government's sudden closure of internet access via mobile data and broadcasts of the Walf television station, is a blatant attack on the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press protected by the Senegalese constitution,” Amnesty International's Central and West Africa regional office said in a statement.
The Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications and Digital Economy defended the decision, saying that mobile internet services were cut off on Monday, “due to the spread of various hateful and subversive messages posted on social media networks in a context full of threats and damaging the social order.”
Human rights monitoring groups have warned Senegal of the possibility that the country will lose its status as a democratic country.
“Senegal has long been known as a beacon of democracy in the region. This status is now at risk,” the agency said in a statement.
“Authorities need to act to prevent violence, rein in arbitrary security forces, and end their attacks on the opposition and the media. “The government must respect freedom of opinion, expression, and reinstate and restore the internet, returning Senegal back to its democratic discourse,” the agency added. (ns/ab)