Still many questions pending after the violence that officially killed 16 people last week, and less than nine months before the presidential election scheduled for February 2024. Among the uncertainties: a possible third candidacy of President Macky Sall, and the fate of opponents Ousmane Sonko, Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade, who could be prevented from competing because of their legal disputes. On May 31, the head of state opened a “national dialogue” supposed to answer these questions, but rejected by part of the opposition. Where we are ?
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
The consultations had opened at the presidential palace on the eve of the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, followed by deadly unrest. Nevertheless, “ there was no interruption says Mouhamadou Dia, head of the communication unit of the national dialogue.
The work is supervised by Moustapha Niasse, former president of the Assembly. In recent days, the various specialized commissions have been set up. There are nine in total: “politics”, “economy”, “living environment” or “natural resources” commission. Their members will meet for the first time this Friday at different sites in the capital, says Mouhamadou Dia.
” Moustapha Niasse and his staff are in the process of collecting all the proposals that come from all the committee chairs concerning the reference themes. President Macky Sall did not want reference themes to be imposed from above. There is no taboo! So every day, the work must not stop, at top speed. »
It is Professor Babacar Kanté who heads the political commission. Khalifa Sall’s Taxawu party is taking part in the discussions, like Karim Wade’s PDS, but not Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef party. On the table: the 3ᵉ mandate, the modification of the electoral code, or the release of detainees qualified as ” policies “. The participants have a little over two weeks to find consensus on these essential points in view of the presidential election: the Head of State is awaiting the conclusions “ before June 25 “. He should then address the nation.