Senegal: the two former presidents Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade support Macky Sall
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. This Tuesday, civil society is called to a silent march in Dakar.
Former president Abdou Diouf (photo) and his successor Abdoulaye Wade signed a joint declaration calling on those involved in the political crisis to dialogue. © Fabrice Coffrini/AFP
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
It 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 how to “
discuss
” and “
dialogue
” to “
put an end to our differences and political crises
” affirm the two former heads of state. And added: “
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 declaration, the two former presidents also note the postponement of the presidential election until December 15 and call on all Senegalese political actors from "
power and opposition
" as well as 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 they understand their dismay and their frustrations.
The reactions were quick last night. Former Prime Minister Aminata Touré, for example, and candidate excluded from the presidential election, said she was "
convinced that the best way to preserve the legendary stability
" of Senegal is to "
respect the Constitution by organizing the presidential election on the due date." of February 25
” rather than an “
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,
ultimately postponed
without a 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, it is explained on the ECOWAS side, is to “
learn about the causes of the recent political tensions that have arisen in Senegal
” following the postponement of the presidential election with eventual 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.
The Senegalese are also called to a silent march in Dakar on Tuesday afternoon to protest against the postponement of the presidential election and the extension of the mandate of the head of state. The new Aar Sunu Election collective, which includes several dozen trade union organizations and citizen and religious groups, is asking Senegalese people to meet from 3 p.m. (local and GMT) in a neighborhood close to the center of the capital. “
We call on all Senegalese to come peacefully and participate in this silent march to say no to the postponement of the elections, to say no to the extension of the mandate of President Macky Sall
,” Abdou Khafor Kandji told the press on Monday on behalf of one of the groups that form Aar Sunu Election.
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