The presidential election in Senegal is already noteworthy earlier than it even occurs on 25 February 2024. It is because President Macky Sall informed the world final summer time that he can be stepping down and wouldn’t run within the election, thereby totally respecting the tip of his constitutional time period. As he put it, he has nice religion within the nation and its folks to proceed after his presidency. His stance is in placing distinction to the present development on the continent for navy coups and presidents clinging on to energy lengthy after their constitutional phrases have ended.
In an interview with Africa Report, President Sall mentioned:
“Senegal is extra than simply me, it’s full of individuals able to taking Senegal to the following stage. Personally, I imagine in arduous work and retaining one’s phrase. It could be old style, nevertheless it’s labored for me thus far and I don’t see why I ought to change my nature.”
He added,
“The actual challenge is the circumstances below which African nations are pressured into debt, at excessive charges. Above all, not like different nations, we’re unable to acquire loans for greater than 10 or 12 years, even after we need to construct a hydroelectric energy station to fight international warming … That’s the true wrestle for Africans.”
As for his personal resignation, he mentioned,
“It’s important to know flip the web page: I’ll do what Abdou Diouf did and retire fully. Then I’ll see how I can redeploy my energies, as a result of I nonetheless have a bit [of that] left, by the grace of God.”
There may be hypothesis that he shall be supplied a number of prestigious roles, particularly round giving a world voice to Africa. Particularly, his title has been related to the African Union’s newly acquired seat on the G20.
He’s energetic in debates about international governance, together with monetary governance, and vocal about what he believes are vital reforms of the Bretton Woods establishments. He’s additionally a robust voice on local weather change, emphasising that Africa’s share of worldwide air pollution is lower than 4 % and that it’s unjust to inform the African continent it can not use fossil fuels or have them financed.
He’s anticipated to be referred to as upon for peace-making roles and is taken into account a favorite for the prize of $5m that Mo Ibrahim awards to an Africa chief who has demonstrated good governance and respect for time period limits. A few of these roles are already being granted.
The OECD and France named him in November 2023 because the 4P’s (Paris Pact for Individuals and Planet) particular envoy from January. The assertion mentioned President Sall’s private dedication will play a decisive position in mobilising all of the gamers of goodwill and signatories to the 4P.
President Sall’s legacy on the worldwide stage, together with his former position of Chair of the African Union, is well-respected. He has championed the cancellation of African debt and strengthening the struggle in opposition to terrorism. He has additionally been influential in his rejection of the navy coups which have taken place in Africa since 2020 and the efforts to reverse them.
In fact two of the sooner coups had been in Mali, Senegal’s greatest buying and selling associate. These had been adopted by a coup in one other neighbour, Guinea, and a failed try in next-door Guinea-Bissau. President Sall was chair of the African Union when a coup struck in Burkina Faso for the second time inside 2022. He performed a number one position within the response of the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) to each coup, together with one in Niger in July.
As head of the African Union final yr, he drove efforts to dealer the Black Sea grain deal that has allowed essential shipments of Ukrainian grain to achieve African nations regardless of the Russian invasion. He’s additionally appreciated for his position in forcing out dictator Yahya Jammeh in neighbouring Gambia in 2017.
As for Senegal’s future, President Sall mentioned,
“We’re heading in the right direction, regardless of the disaster linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences of the warfare in Ukraine. After spending the final decade filling within the gaps in infrastructure, electrical energy, and water, we have to encourage the non-public sector to speculate extra in our nation in order that, sooner or later, the state can focus extra on social points, agriculture and meals sovereignty.”
Senegal’s status as a democracy has solely been additional cemented by President Sall’s willingness to step down and his instruction to his authorities to make sure free and clear elections on 25 February 2024 and a easy transition. It’s to be hoped that this instance will encourage a greater yr forward throughout the continent, by way of democracy and respect for the rule of regulation and time period limits.
