The discussion surrounding the timing of Senegal’s forthcoming local elections has intensified. Following Ousmane Sonko’s direct appeal to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye regarding the imperative of setting an election date, Deputy El Malick Ndiaye has now articulated an equally resolute stance on the matter.

Speaking in Linguère, where he welcomed Ousmane Sonko as part of Pastef’s nationwide membership card sales tour, the legislator emphasized that no deferral of these crucial elections should be contemplated.

« No one can push them back »

El Malick Ndiaye notably drew a connection between the substantial public engagement observed during Pastef’s card sales operations and the ongoing debate concerning the electoral schedule.

“Our membership card sales activities are energizing the country, in a positive way. Across the nation, people are eager to acquire Pastef membership cards. This widespread enthusiasm could potentially influence the date of the upcoming elections,” he asserted.

Despite this, the former president of the National Assembly remained unequivocal about the necessity of holding the polls as scheduled.

“However, these elections are unavoidable; no one can push them back. ‘Beug beuré, bagn beuré’ (there will be a fight, whether they want it or not),” he warned firmly.

Following sonko’s public statement

This declaration by Ndiaye comes just hours after Ousmane Sonko’s own public statement in Louga.

The leader of Pastef had similarly called upon the head of state to issue a decree establishing the date for the next local elections, emphasizing that this decision falls squarely within presidential prerogatives.

“Issuing a decree to dismiss Fadilou Keïta, Waly Diouf Bodiang, and others is within his prerogatives; no one disputes that. In the same vein, he must issue a decree to fix the election date. These are all simple decrees,” Sonko had declared.

These two powerful statements collectively intensify the political pressure surrounding the electoral calendar, as the definitive date for Senegal’s upcoming local polls continues to be a central point of inquiry and debate within the Senegalese political class, impacting African current affairs and governance discussions.