Macky Sall’s decision to give up a new mandate, welcomed internally and externally

The Senegalese Head of State, Macky Sall, announced Monday evening his decision not to seek a new mandate in the presidential election scheduled for February 25, 2024. This move was welcomed by political actors in the country, but also internationally.

“Contrary therefore to rumors which attributed to me a new presidential ambition, I would like to say that I have a clear conscience and memory of what I have said, written and repeated here and elsewhere, that is to say that the term of 2019 was my second and last term. That’s what I said and that’s what I’m reaffirming tonight.”he insisted on specifying.

Returning also to the acts of violence that occurred at the beginning of June last after the conviction of the opponent Ousmane Sonko, declared presidential candidate of 2024, to two years in prison, Macky Sall underlined in his message to the Nation that “the State has remained standing and the Senegalese people, attached to their living together, have refused to fall into the trap of this insurrectionary plot, at odds with democratic values ​​and which aimed to seize power by violence and destroy our model of society “.

In a statement, the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) welcomed this “courageous” decision and congratulated the head of state for having declared that he was not going to stand in the next presidential election of 2024.

“We congratulate the President for his courageous decision, which should enable the Senegalese people to strengthen their unity and continue to progress on the path to democracy. We are convinced that, as an extension of the National Dialogue he initiated, this decision will help preserve the serenity and peace that our country so badly needs and guarantee fair and transparent elections,” the PDS wrote in this press release. published on Tuesday.

In addition, the said political formation calls on Senegalese men and women attached to respect for freedoms and the rule of law, stability and prosperity of the country to join Karim Wade, son of former President Abdoulaye Wade and to support his candidacy. “Karim Wade embodies for Senegal political renewal and a strong ambition, based on economic development, social justice and the preservation of democratic achievements”, underlined the Senegalese Democratic Party.

For his part, the activist and human rights activist, Alioune Tine, founder of the think tank “Afrika Jomcenter”, based in Dakar, congratulated President Macky Sall “for having shown that he is a man of honor that keeps his word”, noting that “a big bomb has just been deactivated with the historic decision of Macky Sall”.

For the founder of the think tank Afrika Jomcenter, we must continue to work to strengthen peace and stability in the country. “It’s never too late to do well, Macky’s decision will help calm a very heavy political climate,” he said.

For his part, the artist and famous Senegalese singer, Youssou Ndour, hailed this “historic” decision and the courage of coalition leader Benno Bokk Yakara. “A very great President you are, an incomparable Head of State you will remain so”, wrote Ndour on social networks, adding: “You have just honored an entire people and all of Africa. You came through the front door, and you leave your name forever in gold letters on the front door of our Nation”.

Opponent Khalifa Sall, former mayor of Dakar and declared presidential candidate for 2024, hailed “a great decision” by Macky Sall.

The decision of the President of the Republic made the front page of all the local newspapers on Tuesday. “Macky, what greatness! “, “Macky leaves through the front door”, “Macky in the pantheon of great men”… headline the Dakar daily newspapers.

At the international level, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, for his part, welcomed Macky Sall’s decision not to run for a third term, noting that it constitutes “a very important example for his country and for the rest of the world”.

“I would like to express my deep esteem for President Macky Sall of Senegal and for the statesmanship he has shown. His decision is a very important example for his country and for the rest of the world, ”tweeted the UN SG.

At the African level, the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, welcomed the announcement made by President Macky Sall, not to run for a third term during the presidential election of February 2024, ending a suspense which lasted several month.

“I welcome the announcement made this evening by the President of Senegal Macky Sall,” the Nigerien president wrote in a tweet.

“I express the wish that this carefully considered decision will definitively calm the political climate in this brotherly country,” he added.

For his part, the former President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, tweeted that “President Macky Sall has just shown great political intelligence”.

“Thus, Senegal remains one of the torchbearers whose flame lights up our continent,” he said.

For his part, the President of Guinea-Bissau, a neighboring country of Senegal, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, also President of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, shared his impressions on Twitter, revealing that he had a long telephone conversation with Macky Sall.

In his tweet, Umaro Sissoco Embaló wrote: “I just had a long phone conversation with my big brother Pdt Macky Sall. “I salute with pride his courageous decision as a great statesman. We can succeed Macky Sall but it is difficult to replace him. I wish the Senegalese people to continue on the paths of peace and progress. “, he wrote.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, for his part, hailed “a wise and salutary decision”. “I express my admiration for the great statesman that he is for having privileged the best interests of Senegal and thus preserving the Senegalese democratic model which is the pride of Africa”, he declared. .

President Macky Sall, announced Monday evening in Dakar, in a message addressed to the Nation that he would not be a candidate for a third term during the presidential election of February 25, 2024.

“My long and carefully considered decision is not to be a candidate in the next election of February 25, 2024,” said the Head of State in his message to the Nation broadcast on Senegalese public television RTS.

“After having listened to and received all the support of the third candidate, my long and carefully considered decision is not to be a presidential candidate in February 2024 even if the revision of the Constitution of 2016 gives me the right to apply” , he explained .

“Senegal exceeds my person… I said in 2019 that my 2019 mandate is my last mandate. I respect the Senegalese and I remain worthy of what I said,” insisted the President of the Republic.

After his speech to the nation to decide on his decision to run or not in the presidential election of 2024, Macky Sall offered himself a walkabout late Monday night at the Palace of the Republic.

The Senegalese leader was welcomed by many citizens who came to the entrance of the Presidential Palace to cheer him on for this historic decision.

Elected in 2012, re-elected in 2019, Macky Sall had the Constitution revised in 2016. It stipulates that “no one can serve more than two consecutive terms”, but he explained that this did not concern him since he had served his first term. before the reform.