Sonko criticises electoral decree delays amid political shake-ups

Amid sweeping changes in key state institutions, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticised the government’s handling of the upcoming local elections. Speaking during a high-energy rally in the heart of Ndiambour, Sonko underscored what he sees as a dangerous pattern of executive overreach disguised as routine administrative decisions.

The firebrand politician drew a direct parallel between high-profile dismissals and the unresolved matter of setting an election date. « Issuing decrees to remove officials like Waly Diouf Bodiang from the Port of Dakar or Fadilou Keïta from the Caisse des Dépôts is well within the president’s powers — no one disputes that, » he argued. « But if the same authority can act swiftly to reshuffle top posts, why can’t it act with equal urgency to finalise the electoral calendar? These are both simple decrees — yet one is delayed while the others move forward without delay. »

Sonko’s remarks came during a well-attended gathering in the capital of the Ndiambour region, where supporters turned out in large numbers to back his call for transparent and timely elections. His stance remains unwavering: any postponement of the local polls would be unacceptable. Since late July, when he launched a nationwide campaign to distribute voter cards, he has consistently warned against delays, insisting that the constitutional timeline must be respected.

Political analysts now warn that the window to avoid electoral chaos is rapidly closing. Electoral expert Djibril Gningue has cautioned that the president has only a few days left to sign the necessary decree before the legal framework becomes impossible to uphold. The absence of a formal call for elections has already stoked tensions between the executive and legislature, with the National Assembly president publicly questioning the government’s commitment to due process.

As the nation watches, the standoff over electoral timing intensifies, with Sonko positioning himself as the voice of urgency and accountability in a system he claims is increasingly operating in legal grey zones.