Rédaction Africa Links 24 with pierre Dieme
Published on 2024-03-12 09:34:20
Electoral process in chaos, republican calendar disrupted, risk of interim presidency, shortened campaign time, outgoing president sidelined, power struggle over election date, plurality of candidates including one in prison: the “anomalies” that mark the 2024 presidential election in Senegal are making headlines. For the first time, unprecedented events are shaping the electoral landscape in anticipation of the race for the highest office.
A unique presidential election! The adjective is not excessive when discussing the upcoming election on March 24, whose campaign was launched the day before yesterday, on Sunday, March 10. Initially scheduled for February 25, as stated in the initial decree convening the electoral college in accordance with the Constitution, it was postponed by President Macky Sall, who revoked the decree before the National Assembly voted to postpone the process until December 15. As a result, a law proposed by the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) and supported by the majority extended the term of the incumbent president, which expires on April 2.
All this confusion stemmed from suspicions of corruption among members of the Constitutional Council who invalidated the candidacy of Karim Wade, and subsequently revealed the dual nationality of former candidate Rose Wardini.
The Constitutional Council, when approached, vetoed the law, declaring it unconstitutional and requesting adherence to the republican calendar. President Macky Sall, acknowledging the Constitutional Council’s decision, called for dialogue to find a suitable date, taking into account events in the country such as Ramadan and the Daaka of Medina Gounass, among others. Participants in this dialogue, boycotted by nearly 17 of the 19 candidates selected on the Council’s list, agreed on June 2, 2024, as the date. However, the “Seven Sages” intervened, proposing March 31 as the date, different from the one chosen by the Executive, who had initially selected March 24. Ultimately, a consensus was reached to hold the election on the date proposed by the Head of State.
The 2024 presidential election is also characterized by a plurality of candidates; a total of 19, a record! One of them, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, is in prison, adding another unique aspect to this election. Bassirou Diomaye Faye did not receive airtime on the Senegalese Radio and Television Network (RTS). Still in preventive detention, preventing the recording of his declaration, the broadcast of his representative’s message was blocked on March 10 by the National Audiovisual Regulation Council (Cnra), citing, among other texts, article LO 134 of the Electoral Code. Another peculiarity of the 2024 presidential election is that it coincides with the end of President Macky Sall’s term, who will leave the presidential palace on April 2. It is the first time in independent Senegal’s history that an outgoing president is organizing elections in which he is not a candidate. For his successor, he is relying on his former Prime Minister, Amadou Ba, a “controversial” candidate even within his own camp. Dissidents from the presidential movement, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dione, and Mame Boye Diao, who intend to compete for the votes of the Senegalese, bring another specific feature to this year’s election.
Still on the topic of peculiarities in the upcoming March 24 election, the uncertainty surrounding the aftermath of the first round is notable. Should a president not be elected in the first round, Senegal could experience a transition led by the President of the National Assembly, Amadou Mame Diop, a succession that has never been witnessed by the Senegalese before. An unprecedented situation where an outgoing president may not directly pass the torch to his successor. The final anomaly of the 2024 election is related to the duration of the electoral campaign. Instead of the usual 21 days, candidates have less than 15 days to convince the Senegalese.
Fatou NDIAYE
Read the original article(French) on Dakar Matin
