In an interview with the Senegalese press, President Macky Sall did not give an official date for the presidential election, which he had ordered postponed. At the same time, he assured that his term as head of state will end as planned on April 2, noting that the name of his successor is unlikely to be known before that date.
Published on: 02/22/2024 – 9:49 p.m. Modified on: 02/22/2024 – 11:34 p.m
4 mins
It was a highly anticipated speech. While the Senegal was suspended due to the head of state's statement about the presidential election, which left the election date originally planned for February 25th open. However, he reiterated that at the end there would be a two-day dialogue with all political actors the country's civil society, which will take place next Monday and Tuesday, February 26th and 27th. Macky Sall called on his compatriots to be patient. “The date can only be set once we have each other’s arguments,” he explained. Ultimately, it will be up to the Constitutional Council to decide.
“I don't want to be the subject of a sterile controversy about ambitions that are not mine,” he warned nonetheless. “On April 2, my mission at the helm of Senegal ends,” the president added. However, “the election may take place before or after April 2,” he added. Asked about the possibility that it could take place by April 2, he replied: “I don’t think so. »
It was said that I wanted to stay at the top of the country. And I am saying here very clearly that my mission at the helm of Senegal ends on April 2nd and I therefore intend to relinquish my position after April 2nd.
Macky Sall, President of Senegal
In addition, Macky Sall said he was “ready” to release opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, who has been detained since late July 2023, in order to seek “peaceful” elections. The latter, as well as the politicians excluded by the Constitutional Council from the list of candidates for the presidential election, are invited to take part in this dialogue planned by the presidency. “If a consensus is found, I will immediately publish a decree to set the date (of the election),” Macky Sall began, adding that otherwise he would refer the matter to the Constitutional Council.
As part of the dialogue, I highlighted to my government the need to take steps to facilitate the release of a certain number of prisoners. The country needs reconciliation. We will take steps to obtain this pardon, including through every legal means possible. […] I do not mind [à la libération d’Ousmane Sonko]. If it helps to avoid what we are experiencing today, I am willing to go to such lengths so that everyone benefits from forgiveness.
Macky Sall says he is willing to consider releasing prisoners to participate in the national dialogue
Already during a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday evening The Senegalese President had demanded that all measures be taken “for a good organization of the presidential election”. “At a time that will be determined very soon,” he said after consultations with political actors and civil society leaders.
It is difficult to say whether the discussions that began last week are over, as nothing has been officially filtered out of the discussions he would have had, our correspondent in Dakar reports. Léa-Lisa Westerhoff. The only certainty: Impatience is spreading. Sixteen of the 19 candidates denounced on Wednesday an “inexplicable slowness” in the organization of this presidential election.
The presidency is accused of “hesitation”.
As for the consultations, the majority of candidates in the race, as well as the main actors in civil society, have already stated that the discussions should only serve to agree on a date in order to achieve a vote before April 2 and the official end the mandate of President Macky Sall. For example, the warehouse of Opponent Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko's number 2, accused the president on Wednesday evening of “hesitating”. He would only agree to a discussion about “immediately” setting the date of the presidential election, he warned in a press release.
So who should take part in this dialogue? Although all sections of society have been called together, many were still hesitant last night about the response to this invitation. This is the case of Mame Boye Diao, who is part of the collective of 16 out of 19 candidates selected by the Constitutional Council who are calling for the elections to be held before April 2nd. It is not yet certain whether he will take part in the dialogue proposed by Macky Sall.
The consultation assumes that there will be natural disagreements because you will be confronting accepted candidates with exploited candidates who do not share the same goals. […] I would like to welcome this desire for relaxation with the possible release of candidates Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. The highlight of this relaxation must be the timely holding of the presidential elections, which, as he said, can take place before the month of June, but taking into account the 19 candidates selected.
“Its dialogue is trapped,” analyzes constitutional law professor Babacar Gueye, because “how can we find a consensus between confirmed candidates who want to go to the polls as quickly as possible and excluded candidates who want to start the entire electoral process from scratch? “ » The professor and member of the civil movement “Protect Our Election” fears that this dialogue will ultimately lead to the deadlines provided for in the Constitution being violated.
This postponement of the presidential election, denounced by the opposition as a “constitutional coup,” sparked an uproar in public opinion and demonstrations in which four people died. The Constitutional Council also vetoed last week about this postponement and called on the authorities to organize it “as soon as possible”.
Despite speculation about the temptation to force a move, President Sall declared his intention the next day to respect the Council's decision and to “immediately undertake the necessary consultations” to organize the vote.
(And with AFP)
Read also: Presidential elections in Senegal: reactions and analysis after the cancellation of the postponement by the Constitutional Council