Communiqué Posté le 08:43 07-07-2023, modifié le 08:43 07-07-2023 par Tournons La Page
In a long-awaited message to the Senegalese nation, President Macky Sall announced on Monday July 3, 2023 that he will not be a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
Numerous personalities, in Senegal and abroad, have welcomed this "wise and salutary" decision, in the words of Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission. Tournons La Page also welcomes this decision, which is in line with the Senegalese Constitution, which limits the number of presidential terms to two.
Above all, President Macky Sall's statement puts an end to a painful period of uncertainty in the country, and to all the ambiguity surrounding the end of his last term of office. According to human rights activist Alioune Tine, it represents a great relief and "deliverance" for all concerned, since a decision to the contrary could have had serious consequences not only for Senegal, but also for the entire West African region, marked by an upsurge in coups d'état and the increasingly pressing threat of violent extremism.
For Tournons La Page, President Macky Sall's decision demonstrates once again that limiting the number of presidential terms in Africa is one of the surest vectors for peace, stability and national harmony. Today, there is no doubt that it is an essential element in building the rule of law and consolidating democracy in Africa. The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, made no mistake when he stressed that "President Sall's clear statement is an example for the region, in contrast to those who seek to erode respect for democratic principles, including term limits".
President Macky Sall's announcement comes at a time of great political instability. By abandoning his intention to seek a 3rd term in office, President Macky Sall has responded to the demands of the Senegalese people, whose courage and determination must be applauded, and has taken the first major step towards bringing Senegal out of this political crisis.
Tournons La Page calls on the Senegalese authorities to further open up civic space, release prisoners of conscience and provide justice for the victims of demonstrations. It is now up to them to take up the challenge of the 2024 presidential election, which must be a model in terms of participation and organization, and enable Senegal to remain a democratic model for the entire African continent.
This historic decision should inspire other heads of state still clinging to power and serving more than two terms at the head of their nation. Tournons La Page solemnly calls on ECOWAS to reform the additional protocol a/sp1/12/01 as quickly as possible, so that term limits are enshrined in gold lettering and become an intangible provision that applies to all, with no possibility of resetting the counters.
Marc ONA ESSANGUI
President, Tournons La Page
marc.ona@brainforest-gabon.org
Tel : +241 66260617 – Twitter : @onamarc
