Suspenseful end to Senegal: Macky Sall drops out of 2024 presidential bid to seek controversial third term as country’s leader The Head of State made the announcement during a live address on public television RTS on Monday evening, July 3.. “My decision, after long and careful consideration, is not to be a candidate, even though the Constitution gives me the right to do so., he declared. Although his main opponent, Ousmane Sonko, has called for demonstrations on the country’s streets regardless of what happens, the decision could calm the situation, while the atmosphere has been very tense in recent weeks.
For months, the head of state has remained vague about his candidacy, leaving Senegalese people to speculate as they await word from the president. His predecessor, Abdul Wade, who was in power from 2000 to 2012, has ironically faded since his election in 2012 after leading a movement against a third term bid. “Senegal is full of leaders who, beyond me, are capable of pushing the country towards an upheaval. said Monday night. I have a clear conscience and recollection of what I have said, written and repeated here and elsewhere that 2019 will be my second and last term. »
Mackie Sall amended the constitution in 2016, before being re-elected in 2019. It mentions “No one can serve more than two consecutive terms”. So his detractors believe that he is going to complete his two legislative terms. But his supporters, who would continue to field him as their candidate in 2024, argued that the amendment had reset the counters to zero. According to them, the legal dispute was resolved in his favour. It did not take political motives into account.
Because the weather in Senegal has been explosive for the past few weeks. On June 1, opponent Usman Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison in a related case. His conviction disqualified him for the present. In the aftermath, it sparked the worst unrest in Senegal in years, killing 16 people according to the authorities, 24 according to Amnesty International, and around thirty according to the opposition. The opponent, who enjoys huge popularity among the youth, continues to clamor for a conspiracy by the authorities to sideline him in the February 2024 presidential election, which the authorities deny. He was stopped by security forces at his home in Dakar. “captured” According to him, from May 28.
It can keep the country in a critical state. In particular, from a video posted on social networks on Sunday evening, the protester called on Senegalese to demonstrate. “largely” The next few days regardless of the President’s announcement. “We need to come out and confront the administration of Mackey Hall and say he can’t afford to pick the candidates that should run in the next presidential election.” According to Ousmane Sonko, not contesting the presidential election was also aimed at effectively eliminating him. If not released within two hours of arrest, “I call on all Senegalese people to rise up as one man and come out en masse to put an end to this criminal regime.”. “If we must fight a fight, it must be final. I call for a national breakthrough. The coming days and weeks will be very difficult.
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