Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Patriotes movement, has sharply criticized the government’s approach to electoral preparations, drawing a direct parallel between recent high-profile dismissals and the stalled process of setting an election date. Speaking to a crowd in the capital of Ndiambour, he emphasized the president’s constitutional duty to issue a decree for local polls, just as he did for administrative changes. « Removing officials like Fadilou Keïta or Waly Diouf Bodiang falls under presidential prerogative, but so does fixing the election date—both are matters of decree, » he asserted.
The remarks come at a moment of heightened political friction, with the Assembly President openly challenging the presidency over the absence of a decree to summon voters. Sonko’s tour to promote voter registration cards, which began in late July, has been marked by relentless calls to avoid any delay in the polls. Electoral analyst Djibril Gningue warns the president now has only a narrow window—just days—to act before legal deadlines become unworkable.
Tensions between the executive and legislative branches have deepened as the government remains silent on publishing the decree, leaving the electoral calendar in limbo. Sonko’s visit to the Ndiambour region drew significant turnout, reflecting growing public frustration over the uncertainty surrounding the vote.
