Macky Sall dissolves cabinet, sets March 24 for Senegal’s presidential poll

Macky Sall, President of Senegal, has announced March 24 as the new date for the presidential election.

Sall announced the date on Wednesday during a meeting with the council of ministers at the presidential palace.

The president also dissolved all members of his cabinet as his tenure will come to an end on April 2.

The presidential election was earlier scheduled to be held on February 25 but was indefinitely postponed by Sall 15 days before the commencement of political campaigns in the country.

He cited corruption allegations against two members of the constitutional council and problems with the candidate list as the reasons for the postponement of the earlier scheduled election.

The postponement received rejection from members of the opposition and several protests were staged to oppose the decision.

The opposition party viewed the postponement as “an institutional coup”, adding that it would extend Sall’s mandate beyond the constitutional stipulation.

This also led to the disconnection of internet service across the country.

In February, the Senegalese constitutional council, a body responsible for screening candidates for the presidency, declared the election postponement as “illegal”.

In a communique by the council of ministers, they stressed the need to ensure Sall’s mandate is not “reduced or lengthened according to political circumstances, whatever or the objective pursued”.

“After the transmission on the same day to the constitutional council of a referral, for opinion, on the conclusions, recommendations and proposals of the national dialogue relating to: (i) the setting of the date of the presidential election; (ii) the possible examination of candidacies for the presidential election; (iii) the arrangements to be taken upon the expiry of the mandate of the president of the Republic, on April 2, 2024,” the statement reads.

“The president of the Republic informed the council of ministers of the setting of the date of the presidential election for Sunday, March 24, 2024.”

Sall removed Amadou Ba who is currently contesting the presidential position under the ruling coalition as prime minister.

He appointed Sidiki Kaba, former minister of home affairs, as the new prime minister of Senegal.