The leader of the Patriotes movement has sharply criticised the president for failing to issue a decree setting the date for upcoming local elections, drawing parallels with recent high-profile dismissals. Ousmane Sonko argued that if the executive can remove officials like Waly Diouf Bodiang from the Dakar Port Authority or Fadilou Keïta from the Deposit and Consignment Fund, the same authority should apply to scheduling the vote. « Whether dismissing officials or fixing an election date, these are all matters of decree—yet one remains unsigned while the other moves forward, » he stated during a rally in the heart of Ndiambour.
Sonko’s visit to the region drew significant crowds, underscoring growing public frustration over the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the electoral timeline. His insistence on preventing any postponement of the local elections mirrors his long-standing position since launching his nationwide campaign to distribute voter cards in late July. With each passing day, pressure mounts on the presidency to act, as legal experts warn that the window for a valid decree is rapidly closing.
The absence of a published decree to convene the electorate has deepened institutional friction, particularly between the executive and legislative branches. The president of the National Assembly’s public call for action reflects the mounting strain in this standoff, as no official steps have been taken to formalise the election schedule despite the looming legal deadlines.
