Ten days after President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential election in Senegal, tensions remain high among the opposition and civil society, despite relative calm in the capital, Dakar. Behind the scenes, efforts are being made to ease tensions through dialogue between the presidency and opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who has been in prison since July.

Human rights activist Alioune Tine and businessman Pierre Goudiaby Atepa have been acting as intermediaries between President Sall and Sonko. Atepa stated that he has been designated as a facilitator by the president to facilitate dialogue aimed at calming the situation. Negotiations are underway, with the release of Sonko and other political prisoners reportedly being discussed.

Recent gestures, such as the restoration of mobile data and the signal of the television channel Walf TV, have been seen as signs of calm. However, these gestures have not convinced everyone in the opposition, which continues to call for elections to be held on the original date of 25 February and for President Sall to leave office on 2 April, as planned.

The Constitutional Council is yet to decide on appeals filed by candidates challenging the law that set the new election date for 15 December. President Sall has not indicated any intention to backtrack on the postponement. Meanwhile, the new collective of civil society organizations, Aar Sunu Elections, is planning a march on Saturday, 17 February, across the country to protest against the election postponement.

The situation in Senegal remains tense, with the outcome of the negotiations and the decisions of the Constitutional Council likely to have significant implications for the country’s political future.