“The situation is completely catastrophic, Senegal’s image is ruined, and I don’t think we’ll be recovering from this democratic bankruptcy, this tsunami in the rule of law, any time soon,” opposition deputy Ayib Daffe said after the vote. 

Security forces earlier on Monday used tear gas to disperse opposition protesters outside parliament, where demonstrators chanted “Macky Sall dictator”.

Inside the parliamentary chamber, gendarmes intervened during the debate to forcibly remove opposition MPs, who had been obstructing the voting process.

The bill was passed without their votes late on Monday, with 105 in favour and only one against.

 

The move unleashed widespread outcry on social media, despite the government suspending mobile internet access on Monday.

“We are all devastated. It’s a blow to Senegalese democracy,” said Pape Djibril Fall, one of the 20 candidates who had been in the running for the presidency. 

Aliou Mamadou Dia, another candidate, reiterated the phrase “constitutional coup”. 

“They have taken the country hostage,” he fumed.

More than 100 academics and personalities teamed up to publish a column describing the president as the “gravedigger of the republic”.

“The real crisis is the one that will result from this unprecedented decision calling into question the electoral timetable, for which he is the sole initiator and ultimately responsible,” they wrote.

Even Senegal’s celebrated musician Youssou N’Dour, a former minister and ally of the president, said he “unequivocally” condemned the postponement and was concerned for the country.

The parliament vote provides little clarity on what the future holds for the electoral process.

Senegal is often viewed as a bastion of stability in West Africa and has never experienced a coup since gaining independence from France in 1960, making it a rare outlier in a volatile region.

Sall on Saturday said that he delayed the vote because of a dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Council over the rejection of candidates.

He said he wanted to prevent any pre- and post-electoral disputes and new clashes, such as those that rocked Senegal in 2021 and 2023.

Tensions had soared over speculation that Sall — first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019 — was considering running for a third term.

He eventually confirmed last July that he would not stand again, re-iterating it on Saturday.

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