In response to ongoing protests sparked by the postponement of Senegal’s presidential election, members of the Senegalese Parliament have taken decisive action, voting to reschedule the election for December 15.
This decision comes after President Macky Sall indefinitely postponed the election, originally slated for February 25.
The postponement, which drew ire from the opposition, ignited clashes between police and protesters across the capital city of Dakar on Monday.
Amidst the turmoil, the parliamentary debate turned chaotic, with police forcibly ejecting some opposition members.
President Sall’s announcement on Saturday threw Senegal into uncertain constitutional territory, prompting violent demonstrations.
With 105 out of 165 MPs voting to delay the election until December, Sall is set to remain in office until his successor assumes power.
Originally expected to step down on April 2 after serving two terms, Sall’s move has raised suspicions among opposition figures.
While Sall has asserted that he has no intention of seeking a third term, his decision has been met with skepticism by the opposition, who denounce it as a “constitutional coup” and an affront to democracy.
