Senegal's Election Uncertainty

Senegal's President Macky Sall said his mandate would end as planned on April 2, but left open the new date for a presidential election which he postponed earlier this month.

Sall has faced a clamor to set a date for the vote after his abrupt delay to the February 25 election triggered weeks of crisis.

Amid simmering social and political tensions, the president put off a decision on the date until after a political dialogue was due to begin.

In an apparent move to pacify public opinion, Sall also said he would consider releasing imprisoned opposition figures Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

"On April 2, 2024, my mission ends at the head of Senegal," the president said, seemingly ending suspicions that he might remain in office longer than expected.

"As far as the date is concerned, we'll see what the dialogue comes up with," he added during a televised press interview.

"The election can be held before or after April 2," he said.

But when pressed, he added that he did not think it would be possible before April 2.

Sall said he would hold discussions with presidential candidates and other political and social actors.

"At the end of the dialogue, we must have a date," he said.

Sall announced the election delay hours before official campaigning was due to begin. Parliament backed the move, despite strong opposition, and Sall then set a new election date in December.

The opposition denounced Sall's move as a "constitutional coup", saying his party feared defeat at the ballot box.

The delay plunged the traditionally stable West African country into a political crisis and sparked unrest that has left four people dead.

Senegal's top constitutional body last week overturned the delay and called for the vote to be organized "as soon as possible".

During a cabinet meeting, the president said the election date "will be set very soon", according to the presidency.