Senegal’s opposition is urging President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to set a date for local elections, turning the vote into a potential early showdown with former ally Ousmane Sonko. The growing dispute comes after their political split and could shape the balance of power ahead of the 2029 presidential race.
Opposition parties are pressing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to announce a date for municipal and departmental elections, which could become the first major electoral test of his increasingly strained relationship with former prime minister Ousmane Sonko.
The five-year mandates of local authorities expire in January, but Faye has yet to issue the decrees required to launch the electoral process, including the date of the vote and the opening of voter registration.
The FDR opposition coalition, led by the former ruling party of ex-president Macky Sall, has also rejected any postponement or extension of local officials’ mandates.
Sonko steps up criticism
