Senegal Presidency spokesperson clarifies territorial election remarks

Abdoulaye Tine, ministerial advisor and spokesperson for the Presidency of Senegal, has issued a clarification regarding his recent comments on the RTS program ‘Nay Leer’ concerning the upcoming territorial elections.

Tine stated that he did not announce a specific election date or a formal message from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the nation. Instead, he emphasized that his remarks focused on the legal framework governing local elections and the constitutional prerogatives of the President. He noted that the President alone decides the timing and format of his public addresses.

The clarification follows public debate sparked by video clips of the interview, where Tine suggested the President would speak to the citizens ‘soon’ to explain his position on the electoral calendar. While no official date has been set, the current mandate for local officials expires in January 2027, and legal discussions continue regarding the timing of the next local polls.