Senegal local elections: opposition demands date

Senegal's opposition is pressing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to set a date for municipal and departmental elections, with current local mandates due to expire in January.

The dispute has become an early political test after Faye fired Ousmane Sonko as prime minister in May, splitting the ruling camp into rival factions. Sonko, now speaker of parliament, has demanded that the local vote be held on time and has accused Faye of delaying the process.

Faye has not signed decrees needed to launch the election process, including one setting the voting date and another opening voter registration.

Dakar University law lecturer Mor Fall said Senegal's electoral code requires the decree setting an election date to be published at least 80 days before the vote. If the elections are to be held before the current mandates expire, the decree would need to be issued by early November, Fall said.

The FDR opposition coalition, led by the party of former president Macky Sall, also opposes any postponement or mandate extensions. Many local councils remain controlled by Sall's party.

Aminata Toure, an official in Faye's newly formed Kiiraay party, has argued that the president has “all of 2027” to organise the elections, adding to speculation that the vote could be delayed. Fall said any postponement would require legislation approved by parliament.

Trade Minister Serigne Gueye Diop said this week that Faye was considering dissolving parliament in December and calling early legislative elections. Local media have reported that the president has sought the Constitutional Council's opinion on holding local and legislative elections at the same time in 2027.