Senegalese President Macky Sall has set the first round of the presidential elections for Wednesday 24 March, after weeks of deep crisis and after the decision of the Constitutional Council which said it was against postponing the elections beyond the end of his mandate, scheduled for 2 April.
"The President of the Republic has informed the Council of Ministers of the date of the presidential elections being set for Sunday 24 March 2024", reads a press release sent by a spokesperson for the presidency.
The Constitutional Council also rejected another recommendation addressed to President Sall and declared that the list of 19 candidates already validated by the institution did not need to be revised.
The Senegalese presidency took note of this sudden acceleration of the calendar by announcing in the evening that Prime Minister Amadou Ba had "left" his post to lead the electoral campaign.
The current Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba was appointed in his place, a spokesman said.
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