In an interview with L’Express, President Macky Sall neither confirmed nor denied his candidacy for re-election in 2024. He stated that he has an agenda to fulfill and will reveal his position to his supporters and the Senegalese population when the time comes. Despite calls for a second five-year term from ruling coalition officials, Sall previously pledged to limit himself to two terms, but now says circumstances may lead to a change of position. The opposition and civil society warn that another application would be illegal and immoral, leading to potential violent unrest. Sall argues that the legal question has already been settled, as the Constitutional Council deemed his first term intangible and beyond the reach of reform during the 2016 constitutional referendum.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
Neither yes nor no. In this interview at L’Express, President Macky Sall remains on his line. Will he be a candidate for his succession in 2024? “ I have an agenda, a job to do he replies. “ When the time comes, I will make my position known, first to my supporters, then to the Senegalese population. ».
More “ on the legal level, the debate has long been settled adds Macky Sall, elected in 2012 for a seven-year term. His argument: during the constitutional referendum of 2016 which recorded the transition to the five-year term, the Constitutional Council “ felt that my first term was intangible and beyond the reach of reform “explains the president. For him, “ the legal question is settled “, even if he admits that the debate is ” policy ».
In recent weeks, ruling coalition officials have escalated calls for what they describe as ” second five-year term of the Head of State. While President Macky Sall publicly pledged in 2019 to limit himself to two terms, “ I don’t give up “replies the Head of State to L’Expressspeaking of ” conviction of the moment ». « This may change and circumstances may lead me to change my position. ».
A new application would be illegal » et « immoral for the opposition and a large part of civil society, which warns of the risk of violent unrest to come in the country.
In conclusion, President Macky Sall’s response to questions about his potential candidacy for his succession in 2024 remains ambiguous. While he reiterated his commitment to complete his current term, he did not rule out the possibility of running again. Legal debates have been settled as per the constitutional council in 2016, but opposition parties and civil society organizations warn of violent unrest if the president seeks a third term. The situation in Senegal is undoubtedly tense, and it remains to be seen how it will develop in the coming months.