ECOWAS Expresses Concerns Over Postponed Presidential Election In Senegal

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed concerns over the circumstances that led to the postponement of the scheduled presidential election in Senegal and urged authorities in the country to set a new date.

The election initially scheduled for February 25, was indefinitely postponed by President of Senegal, Macky Sall, on Saturday, saying he has cancelled the relevant electoral law, citing a dispute with the candidates list.

Sall said he signed a decree abolishing a November 2023 measure that had the original election date.

The announcement comes after the Constitutional Council last month excluded some prominent opposition members from the list of candidates.

In a statement on Sunday, the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja urged the Senegalese authorities to expedite action on the process in order to set a new date for the election.

The Commission further urged the entire political class to prioritise dialogue and collaboration for “transparent, inclusive and credible elections.”

“The ECOWAS Commission salutes President Machy Sall for upholding his earlier decision not to run for another term and encourages him to continue to defend and protect Senegal’s long-standing democratic tradition,” the statement said.