Senegal’s Constitutional Council Overturns Presidential Elections Delay.

On 3rd February 2024, President Sall issued a decree that modified the electoral calendar just three weeks before the vote postponing the election from  25 February to 15 December 2024 which the constitutional court has nullified and this has left Senegal's electorates jubilating.

The Council ruled on Thursday that the law adopted by parliament on 5 February to delay the election for 10 months was unconstitutional, according to a judgment approved by seven members of the body.

Sall's term of office ends on 2 April and the postponement would in effect have kept him in office beyond that date.

The election delay in one of West Africa's most stable democracies prompted violent protests during which three people were killed and dozens arrested.

Senegal's opposition and civil society decried it as a "constitutional coup".

Senegal's major international partners also condemned the move and called on the government to hold the election as soon as possible, fearing violent unrest.

"This decision restores the image of democracy in Senegal," former prime minister Aminata Touré said "The violations were so flagrant that the Constitutional Council put an end to all of that."

Concerning the date, the Council said that it would no longer be possible to vote on 25 February, and therefore invited the competent authorities to organize this election as soon as possible.

Earlier on Thursday, several government opponents were released from prison, their lawyers told media in what appeared to be an attempt to appease public opinion.