Congratulations to the Super Eagles for showcasing an outstanding display of skill, grit, commitment and determination against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in yesterday’s AFCON 2023 semifinal tie in Bouake, Cote D’Ivoire. Their exceptional performance secured our place in the tournament’s final match against the host nation in Abidjan on Sunday. The Eagles won a tension-soaked encounter that ended in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
I wish the Eagles the best of luck in Sunday’s final and pray they bring the prestigious trophy back home.
This week, my attention was drawn to the events unfolding in Senegal where President Macky Sall announced on Saturday that he has postponed the forthcoming presidential election of February 25, just hours before official campaigning was due to start.
Sall said he signed a decree abolishing a previous measure that set the date, because lawmakers were investigating two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the election process had been questioned.
Within 48 hours, the country’s lawmakers voted to extend President Sall’s mandate by 10 months. Reports say that Senegal’s parliament voted to postpone the election by 10 months to December 15 in a chaotic session after opposition lawmakers were kicked out.
President Sall’s controversial decision to postpone the country’s elections has sparked heated debate among citizens, opposition parties and observers. Protests and demonstrations have erupted across the country, with citizens expressing their frustration and demanding the restoration of the original election date. They argue that postponing the elections undermines the democratic progress that Senegal has made over the years and sets a dangerous precedent for future elections.
Are the people of Senegal happy with the way he extended his term? Definitely, no. Well, they are protesting but I guess they are not protesting enough.
Many have tagged this a constitutional coup by President Sall who they claim is making plans to continue on the seat without an election. They argued that the Senegalese president from the beginning wanted to do a third term, but when he realized that he will be met with fierce resistance from the people, he gave up that idea but now is devising ways to elongate his stay in power.
Senegal, a vibrant democracy in West Africa, has been known for its political stability and peaceful transitions of power. However, this recent move by President Sall portends serious danger to Senegal’s political future.
President Sall is using the electoral reforms as a pretext to extend his time in office and consolidate his power as the electoral reforms could have been implemented without delaying the elections. President Sall had ample time to prepare and make necessary adjustments to the electoral system before the scheduled election date. I suspect that the true motivation behind the postponement is to weaken the opposition’s chances of success by buying more time to secure his position.
Prior to the election postponement, many Senegalese feel that their voices are being silenced and their democratic rights are being infringed upon. Now, the decision to postpone the elections until December has created a climate of uncertainty and distrust among the population. The opposition and citizens who disagree with the decision view it as an authoritarian move, eroding public confidence in the government and the electoral process.
Additionally, the continued imprisonment of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the favourite candidate for this presidential election has strained relations between the government and opposition parties. The decision has deepened existing political divisions and increased tensions among rival factions. This polarization could hinder peaceful elections, impeding the country’s progress and stability.
Senegal has long been seen as a role model for democratic governance in Africa, and this decision could tarnish its reputation. The delay may lead to increased scrutiny from the international community, who will closely monitor the electoral process in December to ensure its fairness and transparency.
Reacting to developments in Senegal, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Monday that it condemns Dakar’s delaying the election without criticizing President Sall.
The Commission advised against any action or statement that may contravene the provisions of the country’s Constitution and reminds the population and the political class of their responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the country.
The regional body encouraged the political class to take steps urgently to restore the electoral calendar in accordance with the provisions of Senegal’s Constitution and called on all stakeholders to shun violence and all other actions that may further disturb the peace and stability of the country.
Although, I am a staunch supporter of the non-Interference principle and that ECOWAS should avoid meddling in the domestic politics of member states, I will however not refrain from insisting that the situation in Senegal is somewhat peculiar as it’s another form of a coup that sets the wrong precedence. The regional body should intervene quickly and decisively as a constitutional coup is worst than a military takeover.
Who knows, maybe 9 months down the line, President Sall will get 12 months extension and that’s why ECOWAS should not sit on the fence.
