President of Senegal declines to run for third term

A political analyst told RT that the decision made by the head of state helped to reduce tensions and bring peace to Dakar.

On Monday, Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, declared that he will not seek reelection, effectively ending his more than ten-year administration. Violent opposition protests have been sparked by months of speculation over his intentions to run for a third term in office.

In a speech streamed live on his Facebook page, Sall declared, “My dear fellow citizens, after careful consideration, I have decided not to be a candidate in the election on February 25, 2024.”

Before the president made his announcement, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko called for fresh demonstrations in the event that Sall opted to seek reelection in February 2024.

The public, however, has overwhelmingly praised the leader’s choice and hailed it as “wise.”

Sall’s announcement, according to political expert Elimane Kane, “eased tensions and brought peace” to Dakar, where authorities estimate that the previous month’s turmoil claimed the lives of at least 16 people.

Kane stated, “I believe the president’s choice is a commendable action for the nation.

He expressed the hope that the departing leader will devote his last months to restoring Senegal’s course, allowing his successor to carry on with improving the country’s democracy.
Sall, 61, took over as president of Senegal in 2012 after unseating Abdoulaye Wade, who was seeking a third term and was 85 years old at the time.

Even though the country’s top court had given Wade’s candidacy approval, his re-election faced strong opposition.