Senegal's president defends delaying elections as protests erupt nationwide

Senegalese President Macky Sall defends decision to postpone elections amid violent protests, sparking concerns of a constitutional crisis.

Senegalese President Macky Sall defended his decision to postpone elections as violent protests erupted across the country on Friday.

In his first interview since announcing the delay, Mr. Sall brushed off allegations that the decision was unconstitutional and that he'd created a constitutional crisis, saying the country needed more time to resolve controversies over the disqualification of some candidates and a conflict between the legislative and judicial branches of government.

But much of the public fears that Mr. Sall, who faces term limits, is just seeking to delay leaving office.

Senegal is one of West Africa's most stable democracies, but the presidential vote has been dogged by controversies from deadly protests that resulted in Mr. Sall announcing that he would not seek a third term, to the disqualification of two opposition leaders by the highest election authority.

Mr. Sall denied that he's trying to hold on to power. “I am absolutely seeking for nothing except to leave a country in peace and stability,” said Mr. Sall. "I am completely ready to pass the baton. I have always been programmed for that.”

Mr. Sall spoke to the AP inside the presidential palace in the capital, Dakar, while outside, hundreds of protestors took to the streets, burning tires, throwing stones and blocking traffic as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. At least one student was killed on a school campus following demonstrations in the country’s northern city of Saint Louis, according to a statement from the public prosecutor.

“Our future is at stake, we have to fight,” said Mohamed Sene, a protestor in Dakar.