Electoral Impasse in Senegal

The document analyzes the constitutional crisis in Senegal following President Macky Sall's decision to postpone the February 25, 2024, elections. It argues that the move is illegal and unconstitutional, reflecting a trend toward authoritarianism and 'hyper-presidentialism'. The text details the roles of key political figures like Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, the repression of civil society, and the potential for regional instability in West Africa if the impasse is not peacefully resolved.

• President Macky Sall issued a decree on February 3, 2024, annulling the presidential elections originally scheduled for February 25, 2024, citing conflicts between the Constitutional Council and Parliament and corruption allegations against judges.
• The postponement of the elections is characterized as illegal and unconstitutional, with the author asserting that Sall usurped the powers of the Constitutional Council to manufacture a crisis and manipulate Parliament to move the date to December 15, 2024.
• The Senegalese political system suffers from 'hyper-presidentialism', where an excessive concentration of power in the executive branch allows the President to propose legislation while Parliament merely endorses it, increasing the risk of authoritarianism.
• Under President Sall's 12-year tenure, there has been a shift toward repressive governance, including the detention of over 1,000 individuals since 2021 for dissenting views and the deaths of three young people during protests in February 2024.
• Ousmane Sonko, a prominent opposition figure and former tax inspector, proposes a platform focused on combating corruption and renegotiating oil and gas contracts to ensure economic sovereignty as Senegal becomes a producer of these resources.
• The crisis in Senegal has broader regional implications for West Africa, potentially undermining the image of Senegal as a democratic beacon at a time when neighbors like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are under military rule and withdrawing from ECOWAS.

APA

Niang, A. (2024). Electoral Impasse in Senegal. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/electoral-impasse-in-senegal

Chicago

Niang, Amy. Electoral Impasse in Senegal. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/electoral-impasse-in-senegal.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Niang |first1=Amy |title=Electoral Impasse in Senegal |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=22 February 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/electoral-impasse-in-senegal |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{niang2024electoral, author = {Niang, Amy}, title = {{Electoral Impasse in Senegal}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://afripoli.org/electoral-impasse-in-senegal}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }