PROTESTERS in Senegal were arrested and tear gassed by the police as they took to the streets on Sunday to oppose the decision by President Macky Sall to postpone the country’s February 25 elections.

This came ahead of a scheduled debate of federal lawmakers today to formalise the postponement of the poll.

Demonstrators rallied in the capital of Dakar after leading opposition figures and candidates in the presidential election  blasted the decision. 

Opposition leaders had called on citizens to defend democracy amid a push for dialogue by leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

Those arrested in the capital included former prime minister Aminata Toure and Anta Babacar Ngom, one of the presidential candidates.

The government cut off the signal of the private Walf television channel as it broadcast the protest live. 

The global Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the signal cut off in a post on the X social media platform, urging Senegalese authorities to ensure that “journalists can work without hindrance.”

Senegal has been embroiled in political tensions as a result of deadly clashes involving opposition supporters and the disqualification of two opposition leaders ahead of the now-cancelled presidential ballot.

Several opposition figures rejected President Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election citing a dispute between the judiciary and parliament over the final list of candidates and those disqualified. 

At least two of the 20 candidates said they would proceed with their campaign scheduled to kick off on Sunday.

President Sall said that he was stopping the vote because of a dispute between the judiciary and federal lawmakers over the disqualification process and the reported dual nationality of some qualified candidates.

But opposition leaders claim the Senegalese leader lacks the power to delay the vote. 

They argue that only the country’s Constitutional Council, Senegal'’s highest election authority, has the power to reschedule the election.