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00:06 Prime Minister Amadou Ba has been replaced by the interim minister, Sidiki Kaba.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