Opposition supporters march in Senegal’s capital, demand quick conduct of election

Scores of opposition supporters marched in Senegal’s capital Dakar, calling for immediate conduct of the presidential election. In protests on Saturday, opposition supporters held placards demanding “Free Senegal”…

Despite the new order by the constitutional council to reverse the election date, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, demanding the immediate conduct of the presidential race.

The protest is coming after the country’s top court blocked President Macky Sall’s attempt to postpone the election, originally scheduled for this month.

The decision to postpone the election has triggered protests in different parts of the country, with three people confirmed dead and several others injured.
In protests on Saturday, opposition supporters held placards demanding “Free Senegal.”

The rally is the first allowed by authorities since Mr Sall’s announcement two weeks ago.

No new date has been announced in the ruling by the constitutional council that declared that the incumbent president could not stay in power beyond the end of his term on April 2.

Top international bodies, including the regional ECOWAS bloc, the European Union, former colonial power France, and the United States, have all urged Mr Sall to abide by the decision.

While there has been some gradual calm since the court intervened, running the election using the contested candidate list may ignite further turmoil and violence from those prevented from standing.

Opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade have been excluded due to legal disputes with the Senegalese authorities.