Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Patriots movement, has sharply criticized the government’s handling of upcoming local elections in Senegal, drawing a direct parallel between recent high-profile dismissals and the delay in setting an election date.
In a strongly worded statement, he emphasized that if the president can issue decrees to remove officials like Waly Diouf Bodiang from the Port of Dakar or replace Fadilou Keïta at the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, then the same authority should be used to finalize the election schedule without further delay. « Whether it’s dismissing leaders or scheduling elections, these are all matters of presidential decree—none should be left unresolved,» he argued.
A massive crowd greeted Sonko during a political rally in the heart of Louga, where he reiterated his firm stance against any postponement of the local elections. His stance has remained consistent since late July, when he launched his nationwide voter card distribution campaign. Political observers now warn that the president has only a brief window to act before legal deadlines make it impossible to proceed as planned.
The standoff between the executive and legislative branches has intensified, with no official decree calling for the electoral body to be convened—raising concerns about institutional gridlock. With public pressure mounting and no clear timeline in sight, the debate over election timing has become a defining issue in Senegal’s political landscape.
