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The political debate in Senegal, the westernmost country in the continent, is whether the present president who will be completing two terms will be contesting again for the presidency in the coming elections scheduled for February 2024
The political debate in Senegal, the westernmost country in the continent, is whether the present president who will be completing two terms will be contesting again for the presidency in the coming elections scheduled for February 2024. Constitutionally, President Macky Sall is not eligible to contest. But there is a catch, the present incumbent can take advantage.
The records are straight. Having completed two terms -he was first elected in 2012 for a seven-year term and again in 2019- he becomes ineligible for contesting the 2024 election having completed two terms. The question being asked by the political analysts is whether Sall is trying to circumvent the constitutional mandate using interpretational lacunae. Senegal’s Constitution was amended in 2016, during his first term itself. Two important provisos were incorporated. Foremost was the term of office of the president to five years from seven years before and the second was the overriding condition that no one should seek a third term for the president.
Although Sall has not forced his entry into the coming presidential elections, there are speculations that he is making ground for that. That hinges on when the amendment would become operational. According to Sall, the matter was settled at the time when the constitution was amended in 2016. The cut-off date for counting the second term should be counted only from that date and not from 2012 when he was elected first. Therefore, his first term started only in 2019 and not 2012. Therefore he is eligible to contest the 2024 elections. He squarely rejects the claim that it would be unconstitutional to seek a further term, creating widespread consternation in the opposition camps. He made his view clear to a French media correspondent, who met him recently. The interview was published recently.
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Sall has not opened his card fully; he has given only hints when he says that he has not made up his mind; but pretty clear that the grey areas about his second term were made clear in 2016 itself that his first term to be calculated from the date of revision and not before and his first term should be outside the scope of the revision. He is equivocal in his assertions by saying that he has still not made his mind clear about the third time; but admitted that he has a vision and goal for the country. Yes, it is going to add fuel to the political debate in the west African country, when he is finally going to make his mind known to people. Until then, it will be only speculation. Or is he testing the waters?
