President Sall's last-minute announcement to delay the February 25 poll sparked widespread protests, leading to clashes between civilians and security forces. However, following the intervention of the Constitutional Council on Thursday, President Sall pledged to hold the elections "as soon as possible," although no specific date has been set.
During the authorized protest organized by the civil society collective "Protect our Election," demonstrators donned T-shirts bearing the group's name and held up placards with messages such as "Free Senegal" and "Respect the election date." Unlike previous demonstrations, security forces were present but did not wear riot gear.
Tensions have somewhat eased since the Constitutional Council's directive for the vote to proceed promptly, coupled with the authorities' approval of the march.
Presidential candidate Malick Gakou emphasized the importance of mobilization during the march, stating that following the council's decision alleviated significant concerns.
Rapper El Maestro le Kangham, adorned in Senegal's flag, expressed relief at the president's commitment to hold the elections promptly.
Previous attempts to stage protests against the election postponement, initially scheduled by parliament for December 15, were met with bans and resulted in violence, leading to numerous arrests.
The atmosphere in Dakar during the authorized protest marked a shift towards peaceful demonstrations, signaling a potential path forward for resolving the political tensions surrounding the election postponement. (ILKHA)