Senegal: Macky Sall vows election ‘as soon as possible’

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has vowed to ensure that election takes place but “as soon as possible”.

This follows a court ruling overturning his decision to delay the poll until December, a move criticised by many analysts.

On Friday he reacted to Thursday’s ruling by the Constitutional Council the postponement of the February 25 presidential vote was unlawful.

The country’s parliament in an unprecedented move voted to back President Macky Sall’s decision to delay the vote until December.

That delay further extends Sall’s mandate but the top court said the move was not in line with the constitution.

The council said the move by President Sall amounted to an “institutional coup.” The Constitutional Council ruled that “the (postponement) law … is contrary to the constitution.”

Opposition presidential candidates and lawmakers last week filed legal challenges to the bill passage in parliament.

Sall “has taken note” of the council’s decision and request for the election to be held as soon as possible, the presidency said in a statement on Friday.

“The president intends to fully execute the constitutional council’s decision,” it added.

The west African regional bloc ECOWAS has already urged authorities in Senegal to comply with the judgement and quickly set a new date for the election.