The United Democratic Party (UDP) has voiced deep concern over President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone Senegal’s presidential elections, originally scheduled for February 25, 2024.

The announcement, made on February 3, 2024, just days before the planned election, has raised alarms within the UDP, highlighting the potential impact of such a delay on The Gambia and the wider subregion according to a press release issued by Ousainou Darboe’s party on Monday.

The UDP emphasized the historical ties between The Gambia and Senegal, stressing that any significant upheaval in Senegal could have far-reaching consequences for both countries and the broader West African subregion. The party also acknowledged President Sall’s pivotal role in restoring democracy in The Gambia in 2017 following the defeat of Yahya Jammeh in December 2016, as well as his successive chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union. UDP hailed President Sall as a champion of democracy in Africa, particularly in West Africa.

However, the UDP expressed disappointment in President Sall’s decision to postpone the elections, viewing it as a significant setback to the democratic progress made in the subregion since the early 1990s. The party urged President Sall to reconsider his decision, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles and preserving his legacy as a democratic leader in Africa.

The UDP also raised concerns about the message sent by postponing a scheduled presidential election, suggesting that it could send the wrong signals across the subregion. The party’s statement reflects a broader sentiment among opposition groups and civil society organizations, who have voiced similar concerns about the postponement and its implications for democracy in Senegal and the wider region.