Senegal's President Macky Sall promises to hold election at the earliest convenience

Senegal's president, Macky Sall, has stated that the postponed election to choose his successor will be held "as soon as possible", following a ruling by the top court that his attempts to delay the vote were unconstitutional. President Sall, who has served two terms in office, had issued a decree moving the election to December, but this decision was annulled by the Constitutional Council, which also voided a controversial bill passed by parliament supporting the decree. The Council's ruling is seen as a step towards restoring Senegal's reputation as a stronghold of democracy in West Africa. Following intense pressure to reverse his decision, President Sall has confirmed that he will comply with the court's ruling and conduct talks with relevant stakeholders in order to hold the election promptly. Although a new date for the election has not been announced, the Constitutional Council emphasized that President Sall cannot stay in power beyond the end of his term on 2 April. Ecowas, France, and the European Union have all urged President Sall to respect the court's decision, and Senegal's judiciary has received praise for its independence in this matter. Opposition figures and candidates have lauded the court ruling as a victory for democracy and justice in Senegal. The president's decision to postpone the election had faced significant opposition, with protests on the streets, legal complaints filed against him by opposition politicians, and calls from religious authorities and regional bodies for swift elections. Senegal, known as one of West Africa's more stable democracies, is the only country in the region to have never experienced a military coup.