After gendarmes evacuated opposition deputies, Senegal’s National Assembly unanimously adopted on Monday, February 5, the proposal to postpone the presidential election to December 15, 2024, and to allow the incumbent president to remain in power until a new president takes office.

Legislators, particularly those from Benno and the Pds, approved the postponement of the presidential election to December 15, 2024.

The pretext for this date is justified, according to the bill’s sponsor, by the country’s realities (Grand Magal of Touba/rainy season) and the need to extend the period, as well as the rainy season which is not conducive to a presidential election.

The vote was approved by 104 deputies, but in the absence of opposition parliamentarians who were removed from the chamber by the gendarmerie after several minutes of controversy.

Gendarmes stormed the chamber and evacuated opposition deputies from the room.

As during the installation of the deputies of the 14th legislature, law enforcement officers once again appeared in the chamber to secure parliamentary work on Monday. After several hours of uncertainty, with session still not starting amid parliamentarians sinking in chaos, the speaker of the National Assembly resolved to call in law enforcement, including the gendarmerie, to clear the room.

Member of parliament Sanou Dione faints during proceedings

After nearly 7 hours of clock ticking, Sanou Dione, a legislator of the Taxawu Senegal coalition suddenly fainted right in front of his colleagues. Fatigue certainly played a role!

Firefighters quickly deployed to the scene to evacuate him urgently. For now, the session was then suspended.

Youssou Ndour expresses his disagreement: “Our compatriots do not deserve this.”

“Without a doubt, I disagree with the postponement of the presidential election,” wrote Youssou Ndour on X.

According to him, “Our democratic appointments are obligatory for all of us, and the sovereign people will be the final judge.”

After expressing his concern, Mr. Ndour sounded the alarm. “The situation in Senegal still worries me the most because there is too much animosity in this country and it’s not us. It’s not Senegal. In this regard, I appeal to all goodwill to work towards calming this country. Our compatriots do not deserve this.”