The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS has urged the relevant authorities in Senegal to urgently choose a new date for the country’s presidential elections that was postponed.
The bloc made the appeal in a statement signed and issued by the ECOWAS Commission to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, on Saturday, announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25, just hours before official campaigning was due to start.
In an address to the nation, Sall said he signed a decree abolishing a previous measure that set the date, because lawmakers were investigating two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the election process has been questioned.
“I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election,” Sall added, without giving a new date.
It is the first time a Senegalese presidential election has been postponed. The decision comes following a dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court over the rejection of candidates.
However, ECOWAS in the statement issued on Sunday, said it has taken note of the decision of the Senegalese authorities to postpone the presidential elections, originally scheduled to take place on Feb. 25, 2024.
“The ECOWAS Commission expresses concern over the circumstances that have led to the postponement of the elections.
“Also, the bloc appeals to the competent authorities to expedite the various processes in order to set a new date for the elections.
“The Commission further urges the entire political class to prioritise dialogue and collaboration for a transparent, inclusive and credible election.
“The ECOWAS Commission salutes President Macky Sall for upholding his earlier decision not to run for another term.
“It encourages him to continue to defend and protect Senegal’s long-standing democratic tradition.”
The statement added that the Commission would continue to monitor the situation in the West African nation.
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