A Pan-African movement called Africans Rising has praised Senegal’s President Macky Sall for abandoning his bid for a third term in office. The movement described President Sall’s announcement as a step in the right direction, despite it being untimely due to the political unrest caused by his prolonged silence on the matter. Africans Rising believes that this decision will contribute to restoring peace and tranquility in the country.
President Sall’s decision not to seek a third term has been widely welcomed by political analysts and observers. For months, there had been speculation and tension surrounding his silence on his stance in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The lack of clarity led to violent protests across the country, resulting in deaths and injuries among protesters. Sixteen protesters have reportedly lost their lives in the past month.
While Africans Rising commends President Sall for respecting the constitution’s two-term limit, they believe that his announcement should have come earlier to prevent the unnecessary violence and loss of lives. The movement urges President Sall to unconditionally release all those who were arbitrarily arrested and detained for protesting and exercising their rights to freedom of assembly, including political prisoners, activists, journalists, women, and children.
Africans Rising also calls on regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to monitor the peace process and engage constructively with all sectors of society to maintain peace and stability. The movement expresses its commitment to supporting these efforts.
Senegal has experienced violent protests since 2021, with critics and opponents accusing President Sall of economic mismanagement and suppressing opposition criticism. There were rumors that he intended to bypass presidential term limits and run for a third term in the upcoming election.
