Senegalese President Macky Sall officially received a recommendation on Monday to defer the presidential elections to June 2. This proposal comes after deadly protests erupted following the last-minute cancellation of the vote. The report is a result of a “national dialogue,” although the opposition boycotted the proceedings, insisting that the election take place before April 2, the scheduled date for President Sall to step down.
The political crisis in the West African country escalated on February 3 when Sall postponed the presidential election initially set for February 25. The opposition denounced this announcement as a “constitutional coup d’etat,” leading to protests that tragically claimed four lives. On February 15, Senegal’s constitutional council overruled Sall, leaving the nation awaiting a new election date.
In response to the situation, Sall expressed his intention to seek the constitutional council’s opinion on the June 2 vote request. However, Senegal’s constitution lacks provisions for a scenario where Sall leaves office on April 2, and an election is held only two months later.
Amnesty International added its voice to the discourse on Monday, criticizing a draft law on amnesty submitted to Senegal’s parliament by the government. The proposed law relates to protests occurring between March 2021 and February 2024, during which over 60 people lost their lives. Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa, Samira Daoud, asserted that the draft law would deny justice to victims and their families. She stated that passing such a law would not only neglect national and international obligations but also foster impunity for crimes committed.
Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal, argued that while the amnesty law might halt legal proceedings against those arbitrarily detained, it fails to prosecute those responsible for the deadly crackdown on protesters. Gassama declared this lack of justice, emphasizing the need for accountability in addressing the events surrounding the protests.
