After receiving the report of the national dialogue, the President of the Republic has decided to consult the Constitutional Council for its opinion on the date of the presidential election and the management of the period after 2 April, the date marking the end of his term of office at the head of the country.

Yesterday at the Palace of the Republic, the Head of State, Macky Sall, received the report of the national dialogue, which was held on 26 and 27 February at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre in Diamniadio (Cicad). After symbolically receiving the document from the Minister of the Interior, Sidiki Kaba, President Sall declared that he had taken due note of the recommendations of this consultation of the nation’s driving forces. But that was not all, he announced his intention to consult the Constitutional Council in order to obtain its opinion on the date of the election and the management of the period after 2 April, the date marking the end of his term of office.

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Upon receiving the document from the Minister of the Interior, Sidiki Kaba, the President praised the work that was submitted to him and praised « Senegal’s genius for overcoming difficulties to further strengthen our democratic system ».

According to information revealed in the report, the potential date for the presidential election is proposed for 2 June 2024. It should be noted that the current term of office of the President of the Republic ends on 2 April 2024. The report also suggests that the current Head of State should remain in office until his successor is elected and takes office.

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Returning to the reasons for proposing the date of 2 June, the Head of State said: « It was essential that we return to the legal bases of an election. You can’t hold an election and ignore the provisions of the Electoral Code, which govern the process. The first requirement, when we talk about the electoral college, is the provisions of article LO 137: the need to have 80 days between the date of the decree and the date of the Presidential election ». The convening of this national dialogue, initiated by President Macky Sall, is part of an effort to find a consensual solution to this political crisis. It was also a direct response to the Constitutional Council’s decision to declare unconstitutional the parliamentary law postponing the date of the presidential election to 15 December. However, it is essential to note that this national dialogue was not without its share of controversy. 16 of the 19 candidates selected by the Constitutional Council chose to boycott the meeting, as did several sections of civil society.

By Ousmane SOW

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH