The World Briefly
July 05, 2023Ending Ambiguity
Senegal
|
Listen to Today's Edition
 |
Senegalese President Macky Sall will not run for a third term in next year’s elections, ending months of speculation that have sparked political tensions in the West African country, the Financial Times reported.
On Monday night, the incumbent announced his decision not to run in the 2024 presidential race, adding that the country “is full of leaders who can manage it.”
His comments followed months of rumors that he might seek a third term in office, while many analysts and critics argued that such a step would in fact go against the country’s constitution, which limits presidents to two terms.
Sall was first elected for a seven-year term in 2012 after defeating incumbent Abdoulaye Wade – who at the time was himself running for a controversial third term. In 2016, Senegalese voters approved a constitutional amendment to shorten the president’s term from seven to five years.
Sall was reelected again in 2019, but his allies began arguing last year that the 2016 referendum reset the clock on his presidential term and would allow him to run again in next year’s polls.
Until Monday’s announcement, the president had been ambiguous about his intention to run again.
But his uncertainty flared up tensions in Senegal, with protests and riots breaking out in recent months. Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko – seen as Sall’s biggest challenger – has been calling for demonstrations if the incumbent decided to run again.
Following his decision, Sall’s ruling Alliance for the Republic party will now have to find a new candidate to potentially face Sonko.
Even so, Sonko’s candidacy remains unclear after a court last month sentenced him to two years in prison for “corrupting youth”. The opposition leader and his supporters allege that his conviction and other legal cases against him are politically motivated and aimed to sideline him.
Although he has not been arrested yet, Sonko’s conviction complicates his eligibility to run in the 2024 elections because electoral law bars those with criminal convictions from seeking political posts.
Not already a subscriber?
If you would like to receive DailyChatter directly to your inbox each morning, subscribe below with a free two-week trial.
Support journalism that’s independent, non-partisan, and fair.
If you are a student or faculty with a valid school email, you can sign up for a FREE student subscription or faculty subscription.
Questions? Write to us at hello@dailychatter.com.