“We must create objective, subjective and political conditions which allow dialogue and these conditions are the release of Sonko, the release of Diomaye, the release of all political detainees who actually participate in dialogue freely,” declares Alioune Tine, founder of the Afrikajom Center, on France 24. "We must move towards what we can call reconciliation between the Senegalese. We cannot reconcile the Senegalese as long as Sonko and the other political detainees are in prison. They must come out, let them participate in political dialogue, if we really want an inclusive and sincere dialogue. This is the path that we must take with courage."
The one who is also an independent expert at the United Nations on human rights believes that the decision to postpone the presidential election in Senegal plunges the country into the unknown. According to him, national and international protests have completely isolated President Macky Sall.
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Alioune Tine regrets, moreover, that this gesture pushed Senegal among the countries victims of coups or maneuvers, in order to extend presidential mandates. He says he was surprised by the decision to postpone the vote, judging that the latter is above all motivated by the president's fear of seeing the opponent Ousmane Sonko's camp win.
In order to emerge from the crisis, Alioune Tine calls on the president to release political prisoners currently behind bars and to let peaceful demonstrations take place in the country. He also suggests that the president leave power at the end of his mandate, on April 2, and organize a transition period until the presidential election now set for December 15, 2024.
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