2023-07-04 15:00:00
Senegalese President Macky Sall officially announced in a televised speech on the evening of Monday July 3 that he is renouncing to run for a new presidential term, ending a long uncertainty denounced by the opposition.
The reactions were not long in coming. Internationally, the general tone is one of congratulations from heads of state or institutions that convey a form of relief.
Former President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou greets “great political intelligence” from President Macky Sall. “Thus, Senegal remains one of the torchbearers whose flame lights up our continent”he wrote in a tweet.
His successor elected in 2021 in Niger, President Mohamed Bazoum “expresses the wish that this carefully considered decision will definitively calm the political climate in this brotherly country“.
“After a long telephone interview with [son] big brother President Macky Sall”Bisso-Guinean Umaro Sissoko Embalo salutes a “brave decision of a great statesman“. And to add: “We can succeed Macky Sall but it is difficult to replace him“.
The President of the African Union Commission, the Chadian Moussa Fakki Mahamat expresses his “admiration (…) for having favored the best interests of Senegal and thus preserving the Senegalese democratic model“.
The UN Secretary General wanted to say that such a “decision is a very important example for his country and for the rest of the world“.
The President of the European Council Charles Michel addresses Macky Sall: “You work for Senegal and defend a strong and respected Africa. Thank you for the excellent cooperation“.
In this concert of praise, the Congolese Martin Fayulu, unsuccessful presidential candidate in the DRC in 2018, wants to believe in a source of hope for his country in this year of presidential elections. “May this speech of high political and symbolic significance inspire all African leaders. We, Congolese, must meditate on this historic act, imbued with courage, lucidity, ethics, dignity and patriotism.“
Mixed reactions at national level
In Senegal, Macky Sall’s statement marks a turning point in the country’s political agenda in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.
After his announcement, President Macky sall enjoyed a walkregarding with his supporters gathered in front of the presidential palace. In the ranks of the government, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Equipment and Food Sovereignty Aly Ngouille Ndiaye underlines the constancy of the Head of State who “confirms what he has always told us in all his communications, speeches, books and interventions…His Excellency President Macky Sall has just given us a lesson in the sacredness of the word given”.
In the same vein, Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye welcomes a “courageous, free, sovereign and wise decision” and even splits a confidence: “Two years ago he told me he would not be a candidate and he remained faithful to his commitments”.
The international star of the song, businessman and Senegalese politician, Youssou Ndour, is dithyrambic: “A President of the Republic who will organise, without participating, the election of his successor, it will be a first in our common history. You are a very great President, an incomparable Head of State you will remain so”he said in a written statement posted on Twitter.
In the opposition, it is another story that accompanies the announcement of Macky Sall’s non-candidacy for the next presidential election.
“Better late than never, President Macky Sall has finally accepted that the Constitution does not allow him to run for a third time, launches the former Prime Minister who joined the opposition Aminata Touré in a video statement. […] It is a pity that this declaration was not made as soon as he was re-elected in 2019, it would have spared our country all that has happened, these loss of human lives”.
And Aminata Touré to demand from President Sall that the investigation determine “Who is the sponsor of these killings and who are the actors” regarding the investigation into the 16 people killed during the serious unrest that followed the sentencing of opponent Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison for “youth corruption” in early June.
“But this is due to the extraordinary mobilization of Senegalese democrats, of young people in particular to whom I would like to pay a vibrant tribute, but also to the diaspora who have done extraordinary work”.
Saluting “a great decision”the opponent and former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall “thought of all the dead in demonstrations since 2021, around fifty”, “sacrifices which have not been in vain” and pleaded for “an inclusive election”.
Mr. Sonko’s spokesperson simply tweeted “Focus 2024” with the portrait of its leader. On the set of TV5MONDE’s Journal Afrique, MP for Pastef, Ousmane Sonko’s party, Alioune Sall believes that Macky Sall “deserves no praise”. He denounces “a rotting situation that was caused by the president when the Constitution was clear and definitely prohibited this third candidacy”.
Senegal: “Macky Sall does not deserve praise”, according to a member of the party of Ousmane Sonko (Pastef)
Finally, widely followed on social networks, Pan-Africanist activists, with anti-French and pro-Russian positions, Kemi Seba and Nathalie Yamb commented on Twitter on the Senegalese president’s announcement. For the Franco-Beninese Kemi Seba, president of the NGO Urgences panafricanistes, “It would be profoundly naive to think that following this reversal of the incumbent president, the Senegalese sovereigntist current has won. […] Vigilance therefore, because unfortunately, Françafrique has not said its last word, quite the contrary, at this very moment, it is regenerating.
Her alter ego Natahlie Yamb, nicknamed “the Lady of Sochi”, follows in her footsteps: “Who will be the candidate of Françafrique? I have my own idea…” Mystery.
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