Is this the end of the romance between the President, Macky Sall, and his ally in the White House, the President, Joe Biden? Until then, the Senegalese head of state was in the odor of sanctity at the White House and benefited from the leniency of Washington during the deadly unrest in June. The American President did not hesitate to pose with his Senegalese counterpart during international summits and was one of Mr. Sall’s supporters in his initiative for Africa’s entry into the G20. But since the recent events in Senegal, the tone seems to have changed and Uncle Sam’s country seems exasperated by the maneuvers of the Senegalese president.
The vote to postpone the presidential election in Senegal until December 15 “cannot be considered legitimate”, affirmed the United States which “urges the government of Senegal to organize the presidential election in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws ”.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the steps taken to postpone the February 25 presidential election in Senegal, a step that goes against the country’s strong democratic tradition,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, cited in a press release published overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
It also calls for ensuring respect for freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression, including for members of the press.
Senegal has been plunged into a serious political crisis since Saturday and the announcement by President Macky Sall, in power since 2012, to postpone indefinitely the presidential election which was to take place on February 25.
The postponement was ratified by a vote in Parliament on Monday evening in a chaotic atmosphere, after the opposition deputies who obstructed the vote were expelled manu militari by the gendarmerie.
“Given the conditions in which it took place, the vote of the National Assembly cannot be considered legitimate,” believe the United States.
“The United States will continue to engage with all parties and regional partners in the days to come,” the statement concluded.
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