The Economic Community of West African States has called on the political leaders of Senegal to quickly restore the country’s electoral calendar, a day after lawmakers amended the constitution to delay presidential votes by 10 months.
“The Ecowas Commission encourages the political class to take steps urgently to restore the electoral calendar in accordance with the provisions of Senegal’s constitution,” the regional bloc said in a statement.
Senegal’s National Assembly on Monday voted to postpone polls originally set for Feb. 25 to Dec. 15. President Macky Sall had called for the delay to allow for an inquiry into how the nation’s Constitutional Council determined which candidates were qualified to run, after disqualified opposition leader Karim Wade accused two of its judges of corruption.
The decision sparked protests in front of parliament and along major streets in the capital, Dakar. Security forces fired tear gas at protesters outside the legislature and placed a number under arrest, and authorities cut off internet access on mobile phones. Police lined the streets Tuesday after the parliamentary vote the night before that was marred by chaos as opposition lawmakers tried to block proceedings.
The 15-member economic union warned politicians and the citizenry against any action and rhetoric that may contravene provisions in their law.
“In these trying times for the country and the region, the Commission calls on all stakeholders to shun violence and all other actions that may further disturb the peace and stability of the country.”
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