Senegal schedules delayed presidential election for March 24

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00:00 It's another twist in Senegal's electoral crisis.

00:04 The government has been dissolved.

00:06 Prime Minister Amadou Ba has been replaced by the interim minister, Sidiki Kaba.

00:12 The presidency said the move would allow Ba, Macky Sars' designated successor, to fully

00:17 focus on his campaign.

00:19 And hours later, the government put an end to the suspense by announcing the election's

00:24 first round would take place on March 24th.

00:28 Initially scheduled for February, the vote was postponed by Macky Sars over corruption

00:32 concerns, sparking an electoral crisis that saw dozens of people killed in anti-government

00:38 protests.

00:40 Hoping to appease tensions, Macky Sars introduced a bill granting amnesty for crimes committed

00:45 in relation to the unrest.

00:47 A law which could open the door for jailed opposition figures to return, but which critics

00:52 say could be used to exonerate the perpetrators of serious crimes.

00:57 "We want them all to be freed, but we must not forget the dead, because this amnesty

01:03 law could erase all those deaths."

01:08 The amnesty bill was adopted by Senegal's parliament on Wednesday.

01:13 And while it could lead to the release of jailed opposition figures such as Ousmane

01:17 Sanko, they are likely to remain barred from running in the presidential election.

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