Opposition politicians have reacted to the Senegalese President’s decision to not contest the 2024 presidential election. According to them, the pressure from the citizens had affected his decision.
Abass Fall, a key member of parliament and co-ordinator of Pastef (the party of key opposition leader Ousmane Sonko), had said that the development was not surprising.
In his words:
“What would have shocked us is if Macky Sall had declared his candidacy for 2024. Its a known fact that he wanted to… but unfortunately for him, the pressure was so much that he had no choice but to respect the constitution, he himself had cited several times.”
Sonko’s opinion had been backed up by Aminata Touré, a former prime minister who is also an opposition.
Touré had said that Mr Sall’s decision to respect the constitution was as a result of the mobilization of Senegalese democrats, both locally and in the diaspora
Aminata Assome Diatta, the former trade minister and leader of the ruling Alliance pour la République party, has however tagged Sall’s decision as ‘historic’.
Sengalese would no doubt celebrate this victory. At best, this means that the country takes seriously, the citizens criticisms and threats.
Sixteen lives had however, already been lost in protest before he had released this recent statement.
