BARACK OBAMA'S SECRET MISSION TO MACKY SALL

 BARACK OBAMA'S SECRET MISSION TO MACKY SALL

africa-intelligence    Cheikh Dieng    Publication 13/05/2023

 According to Africa Intelligence, former US President Barack Obama met with the Senegalese Head of State by phone to discuss the February 2024 presidential election.

Less than a year before a crucial presidential election for Senegal, things are getting more complicated for Macky Sall, president of this country. If on the legal level, the latter can rejoice at the recent verdict sanctioning Ousmane Sonko, his main opponent, to a sentence that could invalidate his candidacy, on the diplomatic level, nothing is even less certain. And in the West, Macky's decision to run for a third term is not viewed favourably.


This is at least what the investigative media Africa Intelligence revealed on 11 May, which tells us that the former US president, Barack Obama, met secretly (by phone) with Macky Sall on this extremely scabrous subject. And the first black president of the United States passed on to his former counterpart the doubts concerning his decision to remain in power a third time. According to the same source, the phone call between Macky and Obama was coordinated through Joe Biden, the current US president.


"According to Africa Intelligence, former U.S. President Barack Obama met with the Senegalese head of state by phone to discuss the February 2024 presidential election. The exchange was held in close coordination with the Biden administration, at a time when the scenario of a third term of Macky Sall is taking shape more and more," says Africa Intelligence.


It should be noted that the call of Barack Obama comes in a very tense political context in Senegal marked by the recent conviction of the main opponent of the country to a fine of 200 million and 6 months in prison suspended. Such a sentence could possibly disqualify his candidacy for 2024, which could trigger strong tensions in the country. It should also be recalled that Barack Obama is not the only Western politician to worry about Macky Sall's third term. Indeed, on March 2, the same source (Africa Intelligence) informed us that at the Elysee Palace, the idea does not seem to please Emmanuel Macron.


"With less than a year to go before the presidential election, the prospect of Macky Sall running for a third term is increasingly worrying France and the United States. The subject was discussed directly by Emmanuel Macron with his Senegalese counterpart. At the same time, the issue is embarrassing in the capitals of ECOWAS member states," the source said.