Rédaction Africa Links 24 with pierre Dieme
Published on 2024-03-02 06:47:05
For the European Union, President Macky Sall’s reaffirmation of his departure from power on April 2 doesn’t change much in the Senegalese situation: the Constitutional Council must remain in control when it comes to the organization of the presidential election, which should have taken place since February 25, 2024.
The presidential election in Senegal must take place “as soon as possible” as ordered by the Constitutional Council in its decision of February 15, 2024. This is the position reaffirmed today by the European Union (EU) in a briefing note delivered to the international press in Brussels. The EU continues to urge the Senegalese authorities to take into account “the fact that the election cannot be postponed beyond the duration of the presidential mandate,” as emphasized by the supreme institution in electoral matters.
In this regard, the European Union asks the Senegalese regime to “respect the legitimate aspirations of the citizens and all the vital forces of the nation to preserve democracy, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.”
In a message published on his communication platforms on February 29, President Macky Sall reiterated his irrevocable decision to leave power at the end of his mandate on April 2, 2024. For the EU, this confirmation is to be “welcomed.” However, it should be considered as the “commitment” made by the Senegalese head of state to “fully implement a decision made by the Constitutional Council in its decision of February 15.”
On February 16, a statement from the Presidency of the Republic took note of the decision of the constitutional judges to annul the constitutional law postponing the presidential election of February 25, and deemed illegal the decree revoking the electoral college issued by President Sall on February 3.
Regarding the national dialogue organized on February 26 and 27 in Diamniadio by President Macky Sall to validate a consensus on the date of the presidential election, the European Union says it “takes note of it,” especially with the proposals that will be presented to the head of state on March 4 and then “submitted to the Constitutional Council.”
Some of these proposals, made in the absence of 17 of the 19 officially selected candidates and a significant portion of civil society organizations, advocate for holding the presidential election on June 2, 2024, as well as reopening the list of candidates for contenders not chosen by the Constitutional Council.
At this level, the EU asserts that it will adhere to “the list of candidates… as communicated on February 20 by the Constitutional Council.”
On January 20, 2024, 20 candidates had been selected following endorsements and other checks. One of these candidates, Rose Wardini, had been exposed by the Division of Criminal Investigations for falsely declaring her French-Senegalese dual nationality.
Indicted by the investigating judge, she was released and placed under judicial control. Her renunciation of the presidential candidacy announced during a press briefing prompted the Constitutional Council to update the list of candidates to 19.
– Translated by LM-
Read the original article(French) on Dakar Matin
