Senegalese President Macky Sall has announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25th.
This announcement came just hours before the official campaigning was set to commence.
President Sall, addressing the nation, revealed that he signed a decree abolishing a previous measure that had set the election date. This decision comes amidst investigations into the integrity of two Constitutional Council judges involved in the election process.
Senegal, known for its stable democracy, has seen a smooth transition of power through the ballot box since gaining independence from France in 1960. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over the upcoming election.
Last month, the Constitutional Council approved 20 candidates while disqualifying numerous others, including prominent opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade.
President Sall, who had previously stated his intention to step down and hand over power to the election winner in early April, had designated Prime Minister Amadou Ba from his party as his potential successor after announcing he would not seek a third term.