The African Union on Friday joined the US and European Union in welcoming Senegal’s determination to carry a presidential election on March 24 after weeks of turmoil triggered by the vote’s delay.
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President Macky Sall plunged Senegal into disaster with a last-minute postponement of the presidential ballot, initially scheduled for February 25.
After a month of uncertainty which sparked outcry at house and overseas, the nation’s prime constitutional physique on Thursday agreed with the presidency for the vote to happen on March 24, earlier than the top of Sall’s mandate.
African Union Fee chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, saluted “the peaceable decision of the institutional disaster in Senegal”.
He mentioned the choice to carry an election earlier than Sall leaves workplace on April 2 “displays the deep-rootedness and resilience of democracy in Senegal, of which Africa has at all times been proud”.
The assertion mentioned the African Union would deploy an remark mission.
The choice demonstrated the “nice resilience” of democracy and the rule of regulation in Senegal, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali mentioned Thursday.
The EU known as for a “peaceable electoral marketing campaign and… the holding of credible and clear elections”.
America reacted on a message on X, previously Twitter, posted by the State Division’s Bureau of African Affairs on Thursday.
America notes Senegal’s determination to start its delayed presidential election in March. We stand with the Senegalese folks and their unwavering help for democracy and free and honest elections.
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) March 7, 2024
“We stand with the Senegalese folks and their unwavering help for democracy and free and honest elections,” the submit mentioned.
France praised the position of the Constitutional Council and Sall in calling the March 24 election, saying it “testifies the power of democratic establishments,” in accordance with a international ministry spokeswoman.
The German international ministry mentioned that the situations for a free and democratic election had lastly been created.
The historically secure West African nation is embarking on probably its most open presidential vote, with 19 candidates within the first spherical. The date of the second spherical has not been introduced.
The marketing campaign begins on Saturday and ends on Friday March 22, operating by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
(AFP)