The Senegalese Parliament adopted in great confusion the bill aimed at postponing the presidential election, initially scheduled for February 25, to December 15, 2024, leaving the outgoing president in power until a new president takes office. .
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The tension risks going up another notch. The Senegalese Parliament adopted in great confusion the bill aimed at postponing the presidential election, initially scheduled for February 25, to December 15, 2024, noted an AFP journalist on Monday February 5. The law was adopted with 105 votes for and 1 against.
But several opposition deputies obstructing the vote were evacuated manu militari by the gendarmerie. The debates continued late into the evening, with some coming to blows. “Let’s not be the Assembly of shame. Let’s make sure when we leave here that we can look at our children with pride to say that we were the last wall”, said Abass Fall, an opposition MP.
Around Parliament, the gendarmes repelled sporadic attempts to gather at the call of the opposition with tear gas. Small groups retreated further chanting “Macky Sall dictator!”named after the Senegalese president.
Concern of many States
Senegal, renowned as an island of stability in West Africa, has been in the grip of great tensions since President Macky Sall announced on Saturday, a few hours before the opening of the campaign, the postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25.
This decision virulently denounced by its detractors as a “constitutional coup” plunges the country into the unknown and raises fears of a boiling point, which has not been confirmed for the moment. It caused an uproar among qualified candidates and in civil society, including religious circles. The authorities repressed the first attempts at gatherings on Sunday.
The Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the United States, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, important partners of Senegal, expressed their worry.