Senegal president to hold delayed election following court ruling

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has announced that the delayed election to choose his successor will be held “as soon as possible”, following a court ruling that deemed his attempts to delay the election as unconstitutional. The Constitutional Council of Senegal nullified President Sall’s decree to move the vote to December and also voided the bill passed by parliament supporting the decree. The president has been under immense pressure to reverse his decision since he announced the delay two weeks ago. Now, with the court ruling, President Sall has pledged to comply and hold talks with relevant stakeholders to set a new election date. The ruling has been praised by both national and international bodies, including Ecowas, France, and the EU, who have urged President Sall to respect the decision. Senegal’s judiciary has also been hailed for its independence, restoring faith in the country’s democracy. Senegal, known for its stability, has never experienced a military coup and has a reputation as a democratic stronghold in West Africa.