Senegal’s top election authority on Thursday voided the government’s postponement of a presidential election scheduled for February 25 and its rescheduling for December, ruling that the moves were unconstitutional.
The constitutional council cancelled the decree signed by President Macky Sall earlier this month that postponed the election, according to a judgement approved by seven members of the body and seen by the Associated Press.
The National Assembly’s decision on February 5 to reschedule the vote for December 15 also was “contrary to the constitution,” the judgement said. “The constitutional council, noting the impossibility of organising the presidential election on the date initially planned, invites the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible,” it added.
The constitutional council also reiterated the fixed nature of the five-year presidential term.
Opposition figures praised the court’s ruling on Thursday.
“This is a decision that puts Senegal back on track. I’m not surprised because everything that was happening was too big,” former prime minister Aminata Toure, who has joined the opposition, told AFP.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had urged Sall to stick to the election timetable and sent a delegation to meet with him earlier this week.
The postponement has thrown the country, usually seen as one of the most stable in West Africa, into political turmoil, with three people killed and dozens arrested during protests. Opposition and civil society groups have issued new calls for demonstrations and a peaceful march organised by a civil society collective is planned for Saturday.
The council’s decision was published as several jailed government opponents were released from prison in an apparent effort by Sall to appease public opinion.
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