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Senegal's President Postponed Election Due to 'Moral Obligation,' Gov't Spokesman Says
Senegal's President Postponed Election Due to 'Moral Obligation,' Gov't Spokesman Says
Sputnik Africa
The president's recent announcement to delay the elections originally planned for the end of February resulted in demonstrations in the capital, during which... 12.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-12T15:19+0100
2024-02-12T15:19+0100
2024-02-12T15:41+0100
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Senegalese President Macky Sall delayed the elections due to a "moral obligation" and not because he wanted to retain power, the minister of business and trade of Senegal and the government spokesman, Abdou Karim Fofana, told Western media on Monday.Furthermore, Fofana portrayed the election delay as a crucial and selfless decision. He emphasized that it stemmed from a "moral obligation to stay and solve this problem" because, as per the constitution, president Sall is "the guarantor of the good functioning of the institutions."Sall abruptly canceled the upcoming election that was supposed to be held at the end of this month, citing a dispute on the eligibility of candidates. Making such a decision was "not a pleasure for him," the spokesman added.The official further supported Senegal's democratic system, asserting that the country is governed by the parliament rather than the civil society.The postponement incited vehement demonstrations, during which three people were killed, and drew criticism from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States that expressed concerns about the delay. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the AU Commission, urged Senegal's authorities to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible "in a spirit of transparency, peace and national harmony."Moreover, one of the candidates for the election, Mamadou Diao, told Sputnik on Monday that eight candidates in the election had appealed to the Constitutional Council to annul the decree postponing the elections as the latter violated the provisions of the country's constitution.
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macky sall, senegal, politics, west africa, presidential election, protests, african union (au), economic community of west african states (ecowas)
macky sall, senegal, politics, west africa, presidential election, protests, african union (au), economic community of west african states (ecowas)
Senegal's President Postponed Election Due to 'Moral Obligation,' Gov't Spokesman Says
15:19 12.02.2024 (Updated: 15:41 12.02.2024) Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
The president's recent announcement to delay the elections originally planned for the end of February resulted in demonstrations in the capital, during which three individuals reportedly lost their lives. Additionally, the opposition has filed a request with the Constitutional Council to invalidate the decree that postponed the voting.
Senegalese President Macky Sall delayed the elections due to a "moral obligation" and not because he wanted to retain power, the minister of business and trade of Senegal and the government spokesman, Abdou Karim Fofana, told Western media on Monday.
Furthermore, Fofana portrayed the election delay as a crucial and selfless decision. He emphasized that it stemmed from a "moral obligation to stay and solve this problem" because, as per the constitution,
president Sall is "the guarantor of the good functioning of the institutions."
"He could have said: 'Listen, I've got two months left, I'll give you the keys and let you sort out your problem'. But he's taking on the responsibility of clearing up the trouble between the constitutional court and the parliament, and that's what happens in all great democracies," Fofana told the Western media.
Sall abruptly
canceled the upcoming election that was supposed to be held at the end of this month, citing a dispute on the eligibility of candidates. Making such a decision was "not a pleasure for him," the spokesman added.
"When you are a leader, you often have to take unpopular and sometimes misunderstood decisions. As for President Macky Sall, it is not a pleasure for him to do so [...] he's not going to get his hands dirty just to stay on for another six or eight months," Fofana noted.
The official further supported Senegal's democratic system, asserting that the country is governed by the parliament rather than the civil society.
The postponement incited vehement
demonstrations, during which
three people were killed, and drew criticism from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States that
expressed concerns about the delay. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the
AU Commission, urged Senegal's authorities to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible "in a spirit of transparency, peace and national harmony."
Moreover, one of the candidates for the election, Mamadou Diao,
told Sputnik on Monday that eight candidates in the election had appealed to the Constitutional Council to annul the decree postponing the elections as the latter violated the provisions of the country's constitution.
