Senegal President Macky Sall Postpones February 25 Presidential Election Indefinitely

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election initially scheduled for February 25. This decision was made just hours before the official commencement of campaigning, as concerns over the integrity of two Constitutional Council judges involved in the election process surfaced.

President Sall, addressing the nation, revealed the signing of a decree abolishing the previously set date and pledged to initiate an open national dialogue to ensure conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election. Notably, no new date for the election has been provided, marking the first-ever postponement of a Senegalese presidential election.

The election, originally slated for February 25 with 20 candidates, excluded two major opposition figures. President Sall, having confirmed his intention to transfer power to the election winner in early April, had designated Prime Minister Amadou Ba from his party as the prospective successor.

The Constitutional Council had already excluded numerous candidates, including prominent figures like Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, son of former president Abdoulaye Wade.