Senegal political parties demand respect for electoral calendar

Political tension is rising in Senegal regarding the scheduling of upcoming territorial elections. The Alliance pour la République (APR), the party of former President Macky Sall, has issued a formal demand that the government of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye respect the existing electoral calendar.

The APR insists that the local elections, currently scheduled to take place between December 24, 2026, and January 23, 2027, must proceed as planned to prevent any unauthorized extensions of current local mandates. The party described adhering to this schedule as a "fundamental requirement of Senegalese democracy."

Former deputy Moussa Tine has also expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency and predictability in the electoral process. Tine noted that the uncertainty surrounding the specific dates prevents political actors and candidates from effectively mobilizing teams, managing campaign finances, or preparing for administrative tasks such as voter registration and list revisions. He argued that "it is not normal that only one camp knows when the local elections will be organized."