Political campaigns kick off in Senegal after delayed presidential poll
Senegalese presidential candidates have officially commenced electoral campaigns on Saturday, following a court ruling confirming the election’s rescheduled date of March 24.
This decision marks the end of weeks of uncertainty and initiates a competitive race that remains unpredictable.
Tensions have been high in the country since early February, when President Macky Sall’s attempt to delay the vote by 10 months led to widespread protests and drew condemnations from regional and international allies.
The relatively stable West African country has been navigating a period of heightened political tension, with the poll drawing closer.
Ahead of the much-anticipated election, 19 candidates have about two weeks, instead of the usual 21 days, to seek support from voters.
The campaign will require additional energy from politicians and their supporters, as this will be the first time that campaigning in the majority Muslim nation will take place during the holy month of Ramadan.
The period also coincides with the Christian period of Lent.
With the exclusion of a popular opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, all eyes are now on Khalifah Sall, who is among the leading contenders to replace Macky Sall.
He promised to reconcile the divided country and restructure state institutions to avoid future constitutional crises, describing the latest election date debate as a “grave and sad thing” for a country that has held elections for 64 consecutive years.
