2023-09-09 22:02:51
In Senegal, Prime Minister Amadou Ba is a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. He was nominated on Saturday by current President Macky Sall who is giving up running for a third term. Amadou Ba will, however, have to face competition in his own camp.
Published on :
4 mn
Senegalese President Macky Sall designated his Prime Minister Amadou Ba on Saturday September 9 as his camp’s candidate for the February 2024 presidential election, completely undecided.
Amadou Ba, 62, has less than six months to convince the Senegalese to entrust him with leadership of the country following difficult economic and political years, but with the hope of benefiting from new oil and gas revenues from 2024.
President Sall has openly charged him, if elected, to continue his policy of major projects aimed at developing the country and lifting it out of poverty. But Amadou Ba risks having to face competition in his own camp, the planned end of the Macky Sall years having fueled envy.
Macky Sall, elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019, announced in July that he would not seek a third term. For months he had maintained uncertainty over an eventuality which raised the constitutional objections of a large number and which is considered to have fueled strong tensions in a country otherwise considered as a pole of stability in a troubled region.
Experience
Macky Sall’s camp then gave the president carte blanche to choose a candidate. Macky Sall waited two months to decide among around ten declared candidates. Among them, Amadou Ba was one of the favorites.
Amadou Ba had his experience on his side: head of government since September 2022, minister of Foreign Affairs until 2020, and previously among the leading roles in implementing the president’s economic emergence plan in his capacity as minister of Economy and Finance from 2013 to 2019.
Macky Sall ended up bringing together the leaders of his coalition at the presidential palace on Saturday followingnoon to deliver the verdict that kept the political class in suspense. “We have selected Mr. Amadou Ba, current Prime Minister, as the candidate of Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBK, the government coalition) and the large presidential majority,” he said in a message read in his presence by his High Representative , Moustapha Niasse. Amadou Ba “might be a unifying leader” beyond the coalition, and “he also knows the emerging Senegal plan very well to ensure the continuation of economic, social and environmental policies,” he added.
“Consistent choice”
The head of state cited the diversity of the career path of Amadou Ba, tax inspector from the National School of Administration and Magistracy in Dakar. He praised his “qualities of humility, listening”.
The knowledge of the files, the polite language of Amadou Ba, not accustomed to controversies, are said to inspire the confidence of partners, including foreigners. He is also credited with a very dense network, including among very influential religious leaders.
The appointment of Amadou Ba was ratified by the meeting of coalition leaders around Macky Sall and live on national television. Benno Bokk Yakaar published on social networks a photo of Amadou Ba, presented as “the candidate of BBY” and “the consistent choice for a victory in the first round”. The appointment of Amadou Ba should quickly call for a ministerial reshuffle.
Agriculture Minister resigns
President Sall’s decision, however, risks fueling certain bitterness. The current Minister of Agriculture, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, one of the contenders for the nomination, previously warned that he would not withdraw. He announced his resignation from the government on social networks on Saturday evening. It is time for him “to take on new challenges,” he said.
Amadou Ba’s candidacy “is the one and only candidacy of Benno Bokk Yakaar”, warned Macky Sall. “I launch a vibrant appeal for unity to all candidates for candidacy,” he added.
In all, around thirty candidates have been declared for the presidential election on February 25, 2024. The collection of sponsorships must begin at the end of September. The Constitutional Council will validate or invalidate the applications at the end of December.
With the renunciation of Macky Sall, but also the incarceration of the opponent Ousmane Sonko, the Senegalese are plunged into unprecedented uncertainty as to the name of their future president.
With AFP
1694299055
#Prime #Minister #Amadou #official #candidate #presidential #camp
