Senegal Parliament Approves Postponement of Feb. 25 Election, Extends President Sall’s Mandate

In an unexpected turn of events, Senegal’s parliament voted late Monday to postpone the highly anticipated February 25 election and extend the mandate of President Macky Sall, which was due to expire on April 2nd.

The decision has ignited a firestorm of frustration and discontent among Senegalese citizens, with many feeling betrayed by what they perceive as a constitutional coup orchestrated by the ruling regime.

Adama, a resident of Dakar, expressed widespread sentiments of disillusionment, stating, “Just like thousands of Senegalese, I feel frustrated because we didn’t expect Macky Sall to delay the presidential election. We must regard this as a constitutional coup.”

Lamine echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the perceived betrayal by President Sall and his administration. “I was already disappointed, and my disappointment has only grown because Macky Sall told us he had enshrined the Constitution so that no one could change it no matter what,” he lamented.

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The decision to postpone the election, despite being anticipated in recent weeks, has nonetheless shocked the Senegalese populace. Political analyst Dr. Mouhamed Alimou condemned the move as undemocratic, likening it to authoritarian practices observed in autocratic regimes.

“This move is the kind of authoritarian practice you only see in authoritarian regimes,” Dr. Alimou remarked. “I think we lived in Senegal for a long time on a haven. People talked about Senegal’s exceptional democracy, spoke of Senegal as a beacon of stability, a pioneer of the multi-party system, a country where there is freedom of speech, of the press. This model has been crumbling for some time now. This is what we are grappling with, and we need to reinvent this model.”

The parliament’s decision has plunged Senegal into a state of uncertainty, with apprehension mounting over potential reactions from the opposition. Opposition leaders have already called for widespread mobilization against what they perceive as an abuse of power by the ruling regime.

As Senegal navigates this tumultuous period, the future of its democracy hangs in the balance, with citizens and political stakeholders alike bracing for further political upheaval and unrest.