IN a highly anticipated move, President Macky Sall of Senegal has announced that he will address the nation after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which concludes on Sunday. This comes as the country eagerly awaits to learn whether Sall intends to run for re-election in the upcoming presidential race.
‘I will respond because now is the time to respond, but not today,’ Sall said at the conclusion of his national dialogue with the opposition, aimed at defusing political tensions. ‘I will give a speech to the nation. I will bring my answer.’
Originally scheduled to speak on June 25, the president postponed the address without providing a new date. However, he assured the public that his response would come after the conclusion of Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski in Senegal, which is celebrated between June 28 and July 2.
The issue at hand revolves around Sall’s potential bid for a third term, a matter of great concern for the opposition and many civil society organisations. His first election in 2012 was for a seven-year term under the 2001 constitution, which limited presidential terms to two. Despite this, Sall proposed a constitutional amendment to reduce presidential terms to five years, but the Constitutional Court ruled that it could not apply to his first term.
For many, this interpretation suggests that Sall is eligible for another term, while his opponents argue that the 2001 referendum set term limits, making him ineligible for re-election after his victory in 2019.
Ousmane Sonko, one of Sall’s main rivals, was detained at the start of the national dialogue and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison on sexual assault charges, which he claims are politically motivated. Sonko’s supporters have called for his release and demand free and fair elections in which all eligible candidates can compete.
Idrissa Seck, a former ally turned election rival, stressed the urgency of President Sall clarifying his stance, saying, ‘The problem with a third term is that even the prospect of it is causing turmoil… This situation will only worsen if President Macky Sall announces a bid for a third term. It would be unprecedented and deeply damaging for Senegal.’
The ongoing unrest and authorities’ response to protests have further escalated tensions, leading to concerns about potential violence if Sall announces his intention to run for re-election. The Senegalese government’s actions in response to the protests have raised alarms among critics who fear a crackdown on opposition voices.
As Senegal braces for President Macky Sall’s much-anticipated address after Eid al-Adha, the country’s political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty and division. Many await his response with bated breath, hoping for clarity and an easing of the tensions that have gripped the nation.
