Senegal, beware of your Sall

We praised Senegalese President Macky Sall in a July 2023 editorial “Sall averts Senegal fall” for breaking a long silence to announce that he would not seek a tenure elongation after his two terms end in April. In doing so, he said, “Even if I have the right, I felt that my duty is not to contribute to destroying what I have built for this country…. Senegal is more than just me; it’s full of people capable of taking Senegal to the next level.” While commending his resisting the temptation of overstaying his welcome, we commented: “… in saying he would not be a candidate in 2024, he has broken Africa’s trend of sit-tight leaders manipulating the constitution to stop regime change. Despite (his) impressive performance score, the fact remains that Senegalese voters are tired of seeing his face ,(after 20 years in office) and want change, even if it is change for change’s sake. His initial reluctance to go had already resulted in tens of deaths. The numbers must not rise before he saw the handwriting on the wall!”

Five months down the line, however, it is clear everyone was deceived by Mr. Sall. His deceitfulness is as clear now as the rainbow on a rainy day. The president has just postponed the vote scheduled for this month until December, a clear 10 months away. The excuse the government gave was to “calm things down.” But nobody is prepared to be deceived again this time round. It is suspected that the president wanted to buy time for him to be in a position to influence the choice of his successor. Opponents have called the delay “a constitutional coup.” The regional economic bloc ECOWAS has asked for the election schedule to be respected. The constitution requires elections to be organised at least 30 days before the end of the incumbent president’s mandate. Sall’s rule expires on 2 April. And the decree detailing the electoral calendar must be released 80 days before the vote takes place. Will Sall do as the ECOWAS has advised? No likely, seeing the regional group lacks capability to enforce its own decisions.

We must warn Mr. Sall that he doesn’t have the luxury of time. The rain clouds already are out. Tension is building, with jailed opposition leaders telling their supporters to protest on the streets. Let him learn from the unpalatable experience of his immediate predecessor Abdullaye Wade whose attempt to hang onto power ended ignominiously. Also, the president shouldn’t presume the neutrality of Senegal’s military will hold out for long. The country hasn’t had a military coup d’etat since it gained independence in 1960, an enviable record that power hungry Sall may undo. He shouldn’t forget too soon what has happened in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger – all former French colonies like Senegal, now ruled by military juntas. Sall mustn’t give the Senegalese military the excuse to do the same. It is in his power to save his country. Let him do so NOW!