ECOWAS objects to postponement of Senegal's elections
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dissented from a decision by the Senegalese president, Macky Sall, to indefinitely postpone the country’s upcoming presidential elections scheduled for February 25.
“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,” a communiqué dated February 4 read.
While the postponement is the first in the history of Senegal, the decision to postpone the election was influenced by a disagreement between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, particularly related to the rejection of certain candidates.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS commended President Sall for “upholding his earlier decision not to run for another term, and encouraged him to continue to defend and protect Senegal’s long-standing democratic tradition.”
It would be recalled that President Macky Sall of Senegal announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25, just hours before the official commencement of campaigning.
In an address to the nation, President Sall stated that he signed a decree revoking the previous measure that set the election date. “I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election,” said President Sall. The decision was made as lawmakers were investigating two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the election process had come under scrutiny.
