OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has voiced its concern regarding the delay of the presidential election originally slated for February 25, 2024, in Senegal.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ECOWAS Commission has called on Senegalese authorities to expedite efforts to establish a new date for the crucial presidential vote.
The regional body emphasized the need for the Senegalese political sphere to engage in dialogue and collaboration, aiming for the forthcoming election to be transparent, inclusive, and credible. Furthermore, ECOWAS lauded President Macky Sall for adhering to his commitment not to pursue a third term, urging him to continue upholding Senegal’s longstanding democratic traditions.
The call for a new election date follows the Senegalese Constitutional Council’s announcement on January 20, which confirmed a final list of 20 candidates for the presidency. This list notably excluded Ousmane Sonko, who is currently incarcerated, and Karim Wade, who had recently renounced his French nationality in a bid to qualify for the country’s highest office.
The postponement announcement came directly from President Macky Sall on February 3, citing the inclusion of a dual-nationality candidate and existing tensions between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Council as reasons for the delay. This development has led to heightened scrutiny from regional observers and institutions like ECOWAS, which remains keen on ensuring that Senegal’s democratic processes proceed smoothly and without undue delay.