Senegal’s president declared on Thursday that his tenure would conclude on April 2, with consultations slated to start next week for organizing the election of his successor.
Speaking in Dakar, Macky Sall clarified that while the date for the postponed presidential elections remains uncertain, he intends to step down after his term ends.
“My mission as the head of Senegal ends on April 2, 2024,” he affirmed, adding that consultations, expected to kick off on Monday, February 26, and potentially wrap up by Tuesday, would determine the election date.
If consensus is not achieved, the matter will be referred to the Constitutional Council. Sall noted that the election could take place either before or after April 2.
Previously, Sall suspended the February 25 presidential election indefinitely on February 3 due to a dispute over the candidate list and alleged corruption among constitutional judges.
Despite the National Assembly’s passage of a bill postponing the vote until December 15, the Senegalese Constitutional Council deemed the law unconstitutional and nullified the decree.
The election delay sparked violent protests in the West African country, resulting in three fatalities and numerous arrests.
Protesters accused Sall of using unjustifiable reasons to postpone the election shortly before the campaign commenced.