Senegal: A coalition against a 3rd term for Macky Sall

2023-04-17 16:25:24

A coalition of a hundred political organizations formed on Sunday in Dakar to block the way to a possible third term for outgoing President Macky Sall | Photo: AFP

In Senegal, a coalition of opponents to the third term of President Macky Sall has come together in the Mouvement des forces vives du Sénégal F24. More than a hundred political and civil society organizations have called for a blockage to this possible third term of the outgoing president.

Mamadou Mbodj, coordinator of the living forces F24, read the charter of demands of this coalition: “The F24 intends to stand up to the regime in place to fiercely oppose this attempt to confiscate the law. As a first action, the F24 invites the Senegalese to mobilize on May 12, 2023 for a great mobilization against the third unconstitutional candidacy of Mr. Macky Sall. »

More than 120 groups signed the F24 Movement charter on Sunday, organizers said. The coalition is also calling for the release of “political detainees” arrested during demonstrations linked to the defamation lawsuit brought against Ousmane Sonko.

For Hamidou Thiaw, member of the coalition, this is the first time that all opponents of Macky Sall have come together on the same platform:

“Usually the platforms were either civil society or politicians. Today it’s everyone. We saw the opposition leaders come together on this platform, we also saw civil society and we are really happy that everyone can make concessions to find themselves on a platform and that will make the difference. »

Ousmane Sonko, main opponent of Macky Sall, was present at this event; the latter must be tried on appeal this Monday, April 17, after being sentenced on March 30 to two months in prison suspended and 300,000 euros in damages.