Senegal's postponed presidential election deals a blow to West African democracy. Also, Prabowo Subianto claims victory in Indonesia with the help of a deceased dictator.

Senegal has long been a beacon of democracy for a region that sorely lacks it. The West African nation has seen decades of peaceful transfers of power, placing highly on democracy indexes compared to its continental counterparts. Last week, incumbent President Macky Sall threw his country's reputation into disarray.

Originally scheduled for February 25th, Sall's decision to indefinitely postpone the presidential election was met with responses ranging from expressions of gratitude to accusations of high treason. The National Assembly later intervened and — following the forceful removal of some opposition deputies — rescheduled the election for December 15th. This was met by a ruling from Senegal's Constitutional Council, the country's top election authority, that the postponement was unlawful, telling competent authorities to hold the election "as soon as possible."

Sall's suspicious shuffle

Where Sall will go from here remains unclear. His official justification came after a dispute between the Constitutional Council and some members of the National Assembly over alleged corruption within the council. Raising concerns about the election's credibility, Sall proposed a "national dialogue" to resolve the issue. However, many perceive the delays as Sall's attempt to cling to power — suspicions not unwarranted given years of accusations of opposition suppression, combined with the timing of the delay, just hours before campaigning was due to start.

The candidate landscape is further complicated by disqualifications and controversies. Karim Wade, the son of former president Abdoulaye Wade, was disqualified due to holding dual French and Senegalese nationality. Ousmane Sonko, considered a favourite for the presidency, had his intention to run scuppered by a Supreme Court ruling upholding a six-month suspended sentence for defamation. His arrest sparked deadly protests among Senegal's disaffected youth, which led to Macky Sall's declaration that he would not run for a third term.

Tear gas and tearful pleas

The international community expressed its unease. The US voiced "deep concern" for a delay that "cannot be considered legitimate", while the EU urged respect for electoral deadlines, warning that the situation "taints the long tradition of democracy." Protests continued to erupt and were met by police with tear gas, with the United Nations weighing in over escalating tensions after mobile internet was disconnected and several people were killed as a result of violent domestic unrest.

For a country that was once the standard bearer for democracy in a turbulent region, Senegal is at a crossroads. Regardless of Sall's intentions, delaying an election with this much controversy and uncertainty casts a long shadow over the nation's future and the wider region's fragile democratic landscape.

What's next
  1. Indonesia saw a decisive victor in the country's presidential election with Prabowo Subianto avoiding the need for a second round with a near 60% vote share. Most pivotal was his choice of vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of the popular outgoing president Jokowi. Prabowo's past ties to authoritarianism spark worries about democratic regression, and accusations of electoral manipulation are ongoing. In a notable use of AI in the election, Suharto — the Indonesian dictator who died in 2008 and who happens to be Prabowo's late father-in-law — was resurrected in videos shared by Prabowo supporters.
  2. Pakistan's PML-N appears set to form a coalition government with the army's blessing, though the vote remains plagued by controversy, with the PTI alleging the military rigged the election despite independent candidates affiliated with PTI claiming the most seats.
  3. Finland's Alexander Stubb secured a narrow victory in the presidential run-off, claiming 51.6% of the second-round vote. The two candidates praised one another at the vote's conclusion, with Stubb appearing at Haavisto's election-night event to thank his opponent for a "fair and honest election."
Election calendar
  • February 25th – Belarus Parliamentary Election
  • February 25th – Cambodia Senate Election
  • March 1st – Iran Legislative Election
  • March 10th – Portugal Legislative Election
  • March 17th – Russia Presidential Election
Final thoughts

The use of artificial intelligence has long been one concerning election wonks, given its capability of manufacturing disinformation. However, this year's elections are seeing the use of AI in a different manner — resurrecting the dead. Deceased Indian politicians have also been making appearances, with M Karunanidhi, the iconic political figure who died in 2018, appearing on screen to praise the capabilities of MK Stalin, his son and the current leader of Tamil Nadu. Who knows — by November we might see videos of Ronald Reagan supporting Donald Trump, rather than just having to take Mr Trump's word for it.