Prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticized the government’s handling of upcoming local elections, calling for an immediate presidential decree to set a definitive polling date. Speaking during a high-energy rally in the heart of Ndiambour, Sonko drew a direct parallel between recent executive decisions and the urgent need for electoral clarity.
« Issuing decrees to remove officials like Waly Diouf Bodiang from key state institutions is well within the president’s authority, » Sonko asserted. « Yet the same authority must be exercised without delay to finalize the election schedule. These are all matters of executive decree—none more pressing than the one governing the electoral calendar. » His remarks followed the sudden replacement of Doune Pathé Mbengue at the helm of the Dakar Port Authority, as well as the unexpected announcement regarding Fadilou Keïta’s removal from the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations—a decision that caught many by surprise.
Sonko’s call comes at a critical juncture, with constitutional experts warning that the president’s window to sign the election decree is rapidly closing. Djibril Gningue, a respected electoral analyst, emphasized that procrastination now risks rendering the legal timeline for preparations unworkable. The pressure is mounting as civic groups and political factions alike voice concerns over potential disruptions to the electoral process.
His statement also underscores a deepening divide between the executive and legislative branches. The president of the National Assembly has publicly questioned the administration’s inaction, highlighting the absence of any published decree to convene the electoral body—a glaring oversight in the eyes of many observers. The growing impatience reflects broader anxieties about the stability of Senegal’s democratic institutions ahead of these crucial polls.
