Senegal president postpones election hours before official campaign start

Just hours before the start of official campaigning, Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, declared the indefinite postponement of the presidential election slated for February 25, sparking outrage from opposition leaders and resulting in a ministerial resignation.

In a national address on Saturday, Sall cited a dispute between the national assembly and the constitutional court regarding the rejection of candidates as the reason for postponing the vote, which would have determined his successor.

Lawmakers have initiated an investigation into two judges of the constitutional council, whose credibility in the electoral process has been called into question.

“I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election,” Sall added, without giving a new date.