Senegal's President Macky Sall speaks during the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government session at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Dec 1, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

DAKAR - Senegalese President Macky Sall on Saturday announced the postponement of the presidential election originally scheduled for Feb 25.

The announcement was made in a message broadcast to the nation just a few hours before the start of the electoral campaign midnight Sunday.

The National Assembly adopted a bill on Saturday to request the six-month postponement of the Feb 25 presidential election.

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Twenty candidates were cleared by the Constitutional Council to compete in the polls. President Macky Sall has decided not to run for a third term.