Senegal / Macky Sall : From a supposedly « democratic » President to a despot of the purest kind ?
Macky Sall is facing popular unrest since his ill-advised announcement of the cancellation of the presidential election scheduled for February 25th. The opposition and civil society denounce a power grab by the head of state, who is alleged to have manipulated the Constitutional Council to create this constitutional void that Senegalese did not want.
They demand respect for the fundamental law and the organization of free and transparent elections, not on another date than previously scheduled.
Initially, the government cited the excuse of a parliamentary inquiry to determine whether there was a clear intention to exclude certain candidates. Today, this excuse is no longer on the agenda, as President Macky Sall talks about launching a national dialogue, which could start as early as next week, with the participation of all stakeholders. The objective is to foster trust and create an inclusive environment for elections. Yet another fallacious argument to hoodwink the entire populace.
Faced with this political crisis created by Macky Sall and some high-ranking officials in his government, some observers are discussing the possibility of a military coup at « Oligui Nguema » with the support of France, its main economic and political partner. This solution would allow the current president to save face and ensure his security, while also designating a successor of his choice favorable to France.
The Senegalese people must ensure that such scenarios do not materialize. Otherwise, it will mark the beginning of a system put in place to maintain France’s interests at the expense of the country’s development. The people are therefore called upon to mobilize in defense of democratic principles and to thwart any attempt by President Macky Sall and his colonial masters to confiscate power.
It is worth recalling that yesterday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on « the authorities to ensure respect for Senegal’s long tradition of democracy and respect for human rights » and urged all actors to refrain from resorting to violence.
