2023-07-04 14:22:27
The Senegalese president’s decision not to run for a third term in 2024 sparked many reactions of relief on Tuesday, in Senegal and internationally, in a political climate that has become explosive in recent months.
Published on: 07/04/2023 – 16:22Modified on: 07/04/2023 – 16:24
A salutary announcement in a climate of strong political tensions. It is in these terms that many Senegalese described, on Tuesday July 4, the decision of President Macky Sall, announced the day before, not to run for a third term in February 2024.
A shower of reactions, including internationally, hailed the statesman and a decision to appease a country that experienced its worst troubles in years in early June. The opposition qualified this chorus of praise, highlighting the role of all “sacrificed” lives in demonstrations in defense of democracy and now calling for “inclusive elections”.
“My dear compatriots, my long and carefully considered decision is not to be a candidate for the next election of February 25, 2024,” Macky Sall said Monday evening in an address to the nation, ending a long months suspense.
#DiscoursSn
My dear compatriots, my long and carefully considered decision is not to be a candidate in the next election of February 25, 2024. And this, even if the constitution gives me the right to do so. pic.twitter.com/ntpUqXKhZ5— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) July 3, 2023
The vagueness maintained by President Sall on his intentions in relation to this election and the two-year prison sentence of one of his main opponents, Ousmane Sonko, had contributed to making the situation explosive.
The conviction of the opponent in a sex case, which makes him ineligible as it stands, caused serious unrest in early June, killing 16 people according to the authorities, 24 according to Amnesty International and 30 according to the opposition. The opponent had called Sunday evening for mobilization, whatever the outcome of the speech, to lead “the definitive fight”.
For Ousmane Sonko, Macky Sall’s main objective is to remove him from the presidential race.
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“A wise and salutary decision”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter that the decision “sets a very important example for his country and for the rest of the world”.
Moussa Faki, President of the African Union Commission, welcomes “a wise and salutary decision”. “I express my admiration for the great statesman that he is for having privileged the best interests of Senegal and thus preserving the Senegalese democratic model which is the pride of Africa,” he said. .
2/2: I express my admiration to the great statesman that he is for having privileged the superior interest of the #Senegal and thus preserve the Senegalese democratic model which is the pride of Africa.
– Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) July 3, 2023
The Bissau-Guinean Head of State, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, current President of the Organization of West African States “proudly salutes his courageous decision as a great statesman”, he said on his social networks. .
Niger’s President, Mohamed Bazoum, “expresses the wish that this carefully considered decision will definitively calm the political climate in this brotherly country”.
Paris also welcomed its decision by judging that “Senegal once again demonstrates the solidity of its long democratic tradition”, according to a press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Senegal, the president makes the front page of all the newspapers. “Macky, what greatness!”, “Macky leaves through the front door”, “Macky in the pantheon of great men”… among other headlines.
“I have a feeling of relief, of pride because the evolution of Senegalese democracy has taken on some guts… The prospects are good,” said business executive Hassame Drabo in Dakar.
“His speech changes a lot of things. Senegal has become stable and governable. I am 200% satisfied,” said Issa Camara, who works in the maritime sector.
“Sacrifices that were not in vain”
For Alioune Tine, figure of civil society and ardent opponent of a third term, it is “a deliverance”. Macky Sall “comes out the front door with a great speech”. Abdoul Mbaye, former Prime Minister, shares “great emotion” and a speech that allows him “to find a large part of the Macky Sall” of April 2012.
Opponents have nuanced these reactions of pride.
“I congratulate the Senegalese youth, the diaspora and all Senegalese democrats. Because if President Macky has agreed to throw in the towel (…) it is because there have been Senegalese who have risen against it” , reacted Aminata Touré, ex-Prime Minister who joined the opposition.
Opponent Khalifa Sall hailed “a great decision”, thought of all the deaths in protests since 2021, around fifty, “sacrifices that have not been in vain” and pleaded for “an inclusive election”.
Ousmane Sonko’s spokesperson simply tweeted “Focus 2024” with the portrait of its leader.
Ousmane Sonko, who enjoys great popularity with young people, has never stopped crying out that the authorities are plotting – which refutes him – to eliminate him politically. He has been blocked by the security forces at his home in Dakar, “kidnapped” according to him, since May 28.
With AFP
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