Senegal’s highest court, the Constitutional Council, threw the country into turmoil on Thursday by overturning a law that postponed the upcoming presidential election.
The move, which effectively keeps President Macky Sall in office for longer, has been met with outrage by opposition parties and civil society groups, raising fears of the country’s worst political crisis in decades.
The Council ruled that the law passed by parliament on February 5th, which delayed the vote by 10 months, was unconstitutional. This law would have allowed Sall to extend his current term beyond its scheduled February 26th end date.
The Council’s decision, reported by the state-run APS news agency and anonymous sources, throws the electoral process back into uncertainty and deepens existing political tensions.
Opposition leaders have long decried the delay as an attempt by Sall to manipulate the electoral system and cling to power. They have vowed to continue their protests and challenge any attempt to further extend the president’s term.
The situation remains highly volatile, with concerns mounting about potential violence and instability.
Senegal, known for its relative stability in West Africa, is now bracing for a period of heightened political uncertainty.
The international community is urging all parties to respect the court’s ruling and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve the crisis.
