The leadership of the African Union Commission has called on Senegal to resolve political disputes and announce a date for elections as soon as possible.
In a statement after President Macky Sall postponed this month's elections, AUC chairman Moussa Faki said the disputes should be solved through consultation and dialogue.
Faki said the dispute resolution efforts must also be the rule of law.
"The President of the Commission invites the competent national authorities to organize the elections as soon as possible, in transparency, peace and national harmony," the AUC chair said.
"It strongly encourages all political and social forces to resolve any political dispute through consultation, understanding and civilized dialogue, in strict compliance with the principles which govern the rule of law of which the country has a deep-rooted historical tradition."
He added that the issue is of great concern to the continent.
According to President Sall, the postponement followed complaints after dozens of candidates were barred from standing.
A constitutional council had prevented several hopefuls, including some high-profile politicians from running for office.
He added that the troubled conditions could gravely hurt the ballot.
Sall said he would start "an open national dialogue... to create the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal".
The two-term president, who reiterated that he would not be seeking re-election, did not set a new date.
The move to delay the election is unprecedented in a country that is seen as one of the most stable democracies in the West African region.
The West African regional bloc Ecowas and the US urged the authorities to clarify when the vote will take place, as no new date was set.
France and the EU have also called for an election as soon as possible.
