While protests have been brewing since the announcement of the postponement of the presidential election by Macky Sall – three people killed since Friday as part of demonstrations against this postponement – his two predecessors challenge the head of state and Senegalese youth in a joint declaration signed.
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With our correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
This is as former presidents and “ fathers of Senegalese democracy » that Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade say they want to address their fellow citizens. To call for dialogue first. We knew “ discuss ” And ” dialogue ” For ” put an end to our differences and political crises » affirm the two former heads of state. And to add: “ you have no right to do less than us. »
Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade say they also spoke at length on the telephone with President Macky Sall, who reaffirmed his commitment not to run for a third term, they say.
In this joint statement, the two former presidents also note the postponement of the presidential election to December 15 and call on all Senegalese political actors to “ power and opposition » just like civil society to talk to each other to make the election ” transparent, inclusive and indisputable », offering real support for Macky Sall’s decision. “ They have a duty to guarantee that our Senegal will remain a model of democracy. History will judge them », they write.
The two former presidents finally call on young people to “ stop the violence ”, while saying he understands their dismay and frustrations.
The reactions were quick last night. Former Prime Minister Aminata Touré for example and candidate excluded from the presidential election said to herself “ convinced that the best way to preserve legendary stability » of Senegal is “ respect the Constitution by organizing the presidential election on the due date of February 25 » rather than a “ illegal extension of the president’s mandate “.
Seven ECOWAS parliamentarians in Dakar
Another president, the Nigerian Bolu Tinubu, at the head of ECOWAS, was expected in Dakar this Monday for an express visit, finally postponed without new date. Meanwhile, a delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament arrived in Dakar today for a three-day visit.
Led by the President of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the delegation of seven parliamentarians (made up of four deputies and three civil servants) first met the President of the Senegalese National Assembly. On the agenda: the constitutional law adopted last Monday which postpones the presidential election until December 15.
Because the objective of this mission, we explain on the ECOWAS side, is to “ learn about the causes of recent political tensions in Senegal » following the postponement of the presidential election with possible recommendations to be made to Senegal or ECOWAS.
It is with this same ambition that the West African deputies met the different parliamentary groups of the National Assembly in the afternoon. “ As there is tension, they came to discuss with us to see how to help us move towards dialogue », Commented the president of the parliamentary group Benno Bokk Yakaar (majority) Abdu Mbow after the meeting with the delegation.
Today, ECOWAS parliamentarians are expected to meet members of civil society, as are judges of the Constitutional Council before leaving for Abuja on Wednesday.
Finally, after the cancellation of a meeting planned for yesterday, President Macky Sall is expected to meet with the head of the West African organization Bola Tinubu in Addis Ababa on Thursday.