Sacked Senegal PM joins presidential race as President Sall stays mum about 3rd term
- Written by VOA
FILE - Aminata Toure, former prime minister of Senegal
Senegal’s former prime minister Aminata Toure says she will keep fighting against a possible third term for her former boss, President Macky Sall, who remains silent on his intentions regarding the 2024 presidential election.
Toure was stripped of her seat in parliament this week — a move she says is based solely on her decision to oppose a potential candidacy by President Sall.
“I believe President Macky Sall should not run for a third term. We both campaigned for the 2016 constitution which clearly says that no one can run for more than two consecutive terms,” Toure told VOA French to Africa in an interview this week.
The president’s supporters say the 2016 constitution allows him to run again, while his critics say it does not. In removing Toure from parliament, Senegal’s ruling coalition cited her decision to leave the party, under which she was elected. Toure told VOA that her former colleagues violated article 60 of the constitution by not notifying her in advance and not organizing a hearing.
“I heard it from the radio,” she said, calling the decision illegal.
Toure has been highly critical of the ruling party since her bid to lead the parliament failed in September, and she has accused President Sall of failing to support her. Toure, who has announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, says President Sall is attempting to keep his main opponents from running.
Opposition member Ousmane Sonko, who also has announced his candidacy for the election, is facing rape charges, and a judge has ruled that he should stand trial. Sonko denied the accusations and told VOA French-to-Africa Monday that the charges are a political conspiracy aimed at keeping him from running.
“Macky Sall must come to his senses,” he told VOA.
The president has not said publicly whether he will run again or not. His supporters say Sonko’s legal troubles are a private matter and the government has nothing to do with it.
Many political observers say a third run for President Sall could rock a country that has been considered a beacon of democracy and stability in a West African region plagued by coups and militant attacks.
Comments
With Putin wanting to won Ukraine & won't stop unless stopped, things will get worse for Africa & developed world!
This is so as many African countries ruled by selfstyled gods look up to Putin, unconcerned this lifetime Russian ruler allows no opposition; he kills, imprison them, those who manage to go in exile are poisoned by Putin's agents...!
Africans MUST give the next generation a continent that will be humanely governed in peace! Why be at war, poor, without education/housing/healthcare...in such a rich continent that Russia, China...wants to own, control?
To whom are Africans migrating to developed world leaving their rich lands to?
What is it that most African leaders do not want to leave the people's State House?
Is it more food that they want on their plates; another roof over their heads, another bed to sleep on; or it is the crimes they have committed against their people that haunts them?
Otherwise, if it is food, an adult can do with one decent meal a day. No diabetes and no High Blood Pressure (HBP).
If it is a roof over the head, one only needs a clean room, somewhere to temporarily sit, a simple bed from Kubiri, Wnadegeya and a Mosquiro Net.
If it is transport, one only needs a Toyota Spacio. And because of the increasing cost of fuel something smaller can do, and a ticket to Heaven.