The Senegalese National Assembly adopted on Saturday a reform of the electoral code, allowing two opposition figures, Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade, to regain their eligibility for the presidential election in February 2024.
In a parliamentary session that drew national and international attention, Senegalese deputies voted in favor of a reform of the electoral code that restores the eligibility of two prominent figures in the political opposition. Khalifa Sall, former mayor of Dakar, and Karim Wade, heir of former President Abdoulaye Wade, were prevented from running in the 2019 presidential election due to separate convictions in financial cases.
The text was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 124 votes in favor, one against, and 0 abstentions, and stipulates that anyone convicted and subsequently granted amnesty or pardon can now be listed on the electoral rolls and run for elections. This decision, supported by the government, offers a chance for the two opponents to actively participate in the country’s democratic life.
Both Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade have played significant roles in Senegalese politics in the past. Their electoral rehabilitation marks a significant turning point in the upcoming presidential race. If the reform is enacted, they will join the list of major candidates for the February 2024 presidential election, alongside other political figures and potential contenders.
The decision to restore the eligibility of Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade raises hopes for a reduction in the political tensions that have shaken Senegal in recent months. However, it is important to note that the leader of the opposition, Ousmane Sonko, will apparently not have this chance. He was convicted and detained before being urgently taken to the hospital following a hunger strike, and his chances of participating in the next presidential election are gradually diminishing.
