Senegal: Presidential inauguration in Dakar April 2 /update 3

Event

On Tuesday, March 5, the Constitutional Court of Senegal officially confirmed that incumbent President Macky Sall won the February 24 election. The announcement was made after the four other candidates decided not to file an appeal while still rejecting the results. Sall's inauguration will be held in Dakar on April 2. As of Thursday, March 7, specific details regarding the ceremony have not been released; however, transportation and commercial disruptions are anticipated during the event. It is unclear if opposition groups will hold protests on April 2 or the weeks leading up to the inauguration. A heightened security presence and localized disruptions are likely near any protests.

Context

Sall secured 58 percent of the vote, with opposition candidates Idrissa Seck and Ousmane Sonko receiving 21 percent and 16 percent, respectively. The February 24 elections were reportedly held without major incident, although there were some reports of voting irregularities. However, two major opposition figures - former Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall and former Minister Karim Wade - were prohibited from running for office over corruption convictions.

Advice

Individuals in Senegal, particularly in Dakar, are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate transportation and commercial disruptions during the inauguration, avoid all protests and political rallies due to the risk of violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.