Senegal’s Top Court Rejects President’s Decree To Postpone Elections

Confusion continues to reign in Senegal as the country’s top court has rejected President Macky Sall’s decree to postpone elections to December stating that to do so was “contrary to the constitution.” The elections were scheduled to be held on Feb 25.

The court however recognised that it was impossible to hold the elections by then. In its judgment, it stated: “The constitutional council, noting the impossibility of organizing the presidential election on the date initially planned, invites the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible.”  It however urged the president to hold elections as soon as possible.

The decision comes after President Sall had proposed the delay for elections which had been backed by 105 of 165 MPs. The elections were scheduled for December 15.

Sall’s decision had provoked widespread protests in the country with opposition figures said that it amounted to an “institutional coup.” Three people were killed in the protests.

The president has so far not commented on the court’s decision. In an interview with AP last week, he had simply said in response to the question that he would only be able to say what he would do when that judgment was made.

Sal who has completed his two terms in office is not allowed under the Constitution to contest another term. He had however stated that controversies regarding candidates and conflict between the country’s legislative and judiciary branches had made the holding of elections at the time unfeasible. He argued that time was needed to sort out the issue before elections could be held.