Senegal: Presidential elections set for late March after weeks of crisis

A date at last. This Wednesday, Senegalese Head of State Macky Sall scheduled the first round of presidential elections for March 24, after weeks of deep crisis and a decision by the Constitutional Council opposing the postponement of the elections after the expiration of his term on April 2. “The President of the Republic has informed the Council of Ministers that the date for the presidential elections has been set for Sunday, March 24, 2024,” explains a press release sent by the presidential spokesman. However, the question remains, since the Constitutional Council, for its part, scheduled the presidential elections for March 31, that is, a week later…

The announcement followed the publication of a decision by the Constitutional Council, which ruled that presidential elections should take place before April 2, rejecting the proposed June 2 date. “The setting of an election date outside the term of office of the current President of the Republic is contrary to the Constitution,” the Wise Men were assured in a decision dated Tuesday and confirmed by AFP. The Constitutional Council also rejected another recommendation made to President Sall and said that the list of 19 candidates already approved by the institute should not be revised.

Senegal’s president marked the sudden acceleration of the calendar by announcing in the evening that Prime Minister Amadou Ba had been “relieved” of his post to lead the campaign. He will be replaced by Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba, the spokesman explained.

The Constitutional Council was sent to the Constitutional Council on Monday to receive an opinion from President Sall himself. The head of state presented recommendations following a “national dialogue” he convened last week to try to resolve the crisis caused by the postponement of presidential elections, one of the worst in decades.

“National Dialogue”

President Sall sent shockwaves through what was considered one of West Africa’s most stable countries, rocked by the power grab, by decreeing on February 3 that elections scheduled for February 25 be postponed. This “national dialogue” was one element of President Macky Sall’s response to the crisis. Another was a bill on amnesty for actions related to political violence in recent years. This text was widely criticized, although it was expected to ease tensions.

Senegalese lawmakers passed an amnesty law on Wednesday. Parliamentarians approved with 94 votes in favor and 49 against the text, which critics condemn as a shelter for those who have committed serious acts, including murder.

The amnesty risks adding to the confusion. The question of its application to jailed opponent Ousmane Sonko, his possible return to the electoral saddle and, more generally, the revision of the list of candidates approved in January has roiled the political class. According to the text presented to the committee on Tuesday, the draft would provide an amnesty for all offenses or crimes, whether convicted or not, committed between February 1, 2021 and February 25, 2024 and “related to demonstrations or politically motivated.” motivation.”

Between 2021 and 2023, Senegal experienced various episodes of unrest, clashes, looting and looting, caused in part by the standoff between Sonko’s opponent and the government. Ousmane Sonko, third in the 2019 presidential election and declared candidate in 2024, has been in custody since July 2023 and disqualified from the presidential election in which he was one of the favorites. In February, Senegal was the victim of further unrest after the announcement of the postponement of elections. Since 2021, dozens of people have been killed, hundreds injured, and hundreds more arrested.

“Amnesty, amnesia”

The presidency justified the amnesty by the need to “calm the political and social climate.” The law “has the sole purpose of reconciliation (…) President Macky Sall does not hide any bad intentions,” Farba Ngom, a member of the presidential camp, assured during the debate. The latest in a series of amnesties approved since independence, this one, without going into too much detail, could mean the release of dozens of opponents.

But many political and public figures oppose the project, expressing outrage that no security forces or government officials will be held accountable. “This law is a license to continue killing Senegalese people. Amnesty law, amnesia law: not in my name. Justice for the murdered and tortured,” exclaimed MP Guy Marius Sagna.

This project did not receive unanimity in the presidential camp, which has a shaky majority in the Assembly. The position of Ousmane Sonko’s disbanded party is being scrutinized. Pastef, who has almost systematically opposed presidential projects in the past but whose members could benefit from amnesty, abstained during the committee’s preliminary vote on Tuesday. Pastef “is not asking” for the text, MP Ayib Daffe said on Wednesday. But the amnesty itself is “something commendable.”