Senegalese lawmakers were forcibly ejected from parliament after a vote to postpone the presidential vote until the end of the year.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned against the breakdown of the provisions of the Senegalese constitution amid the ongoing political crisis in the country over its presidential election.
Senegalese lawmakers were forcibly ejected from parliament after a vote to postpone the presidential vote until the end of the year.
This would keep President Macky Sall in office but this has been criticised by opposition members.
The vote in the West African country late on Monday followed a lengthy parliamentary session that concluded with police in riot gear removing a group of opposition politicians from the building in the capital Dakar.
Sall, who has reached his two-term presidential limit, shocked Senegal over the weekend by announcing that the February 25 election would be delayed, citing concerns about how some candidates had been approved.
But analysts have reportedly suggested that the announced delay was because the ruling party feared they would lose the vote.
Parliament’s ratification of the postponement left Senegal in limbo and threatens to jeopardise a democracy that has gained a reputation for political stability in a region rocked by coups and violent insurgencies in recent years, Financial Times reports.
The delay bill was introduced by an opposition lawmaker from a party that voted alongside Sall’s ruling coalition in the eventual vote.
One MP from the president’s party requested a one-year delay, but lawmakers adopted a late amendment to schedule the vote for December 15. About a dozen opposition MPs then took centre stage to protest, halting the process by two hours before they were escorted out by police.
One of the MPs, Guy Marius Sagna, reportedly told reporters that Sall was attempting a “putsch” and accused parliamentary leaders of seeking to stop debate on the matter.
Senegalese police earlier fired tear gas at protesters who had gathered outside parliament, with armed officers also scattered across the capital to deter demonstrators.
Reacting to the political crisis, ECOWAS in a statement issued on Tuesday in its headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria's capital, said it was concerned about the unfolding situation in Senegal.
The Commission advised against any action or statement that may contravene the provisions of the country's Constitution and reminded the people of Senegal and the political class of their responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the country.
“The ECOWAS Commission encourages the political class to take steps urgently to restore the electoral calendar in accordance with the provisions of Senegal's Constitution.
“In these trying times for the country and the region, the Commission calls on all stakeholders to shun violence and all other actions that may further disturb the peace and stability of the country.
“It urges the law enforcement agencies to exercise utmost restraint and protect the fundamental rights of all citizens.
“The ECOWAS Commission will continue to monitor the unfolding events and will take all necessary steps to support the government and people of Senegal in their efforts to sustain the country's democratic tradition,” the statement added.