Opponents form coalition in Senegal against Macky Sall's of third term

From: Le Monde -  By Coumba Kane and Théa Ollivier(Dakar, correspondence)
Published on 26 April 2023

 

A Dakar, durant une manifestation des oppositions à un troisième mandat de Macky Sall, le 26 janvier 2023. STEFANO RELLANDINI / AFP

In Senegal, the diverse F24 Platform to prevent a third term for Macky Sall. Political figures, members of civil society, associations, grouped under the same banner, are calling for a large demonstration on 12 May in Dakar.

It's like déjà vu. Twelve years after the Movement of June 23 (M23) formed to block the third term of former President Abdoulaye Wade, the platform "forces vives de la nation F24" was born on April 16 in Senegal, bringing together at least 150 political parties and civil society organizations. This time, it is Macky Sall who is in the firing line, accused of maintaining the vagueness of his candidacy for a third term in the February 2024 presidential election. "I understand the concern of the Senegalese but the time will come, it is soon," assured the head of state, Saturday, April 22 on the airwaves of the private Senegalese radio RFM.

The heterogeneous members of the F24 Platform have set several priorities: the fight against the third candidacy of Macky Sall, the release of political prisoners, the end of bans on demonstrations, as well as the repeal of certain articles of the electoral code on the ineligibility of candidates. Among this massive front are political leaders who have declared themselves candidates for the 2024 elections such as Ousmane Sonko, the former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall, Déthié Fall and Aminata Touré.


Faced with the risk of seeing one of them use the new formation to serve his own purpose, it was decided to entrust the coordination to a member from civil society. It is the former trade unionist and figurehead of the M23, Mamadou Mbodj, who was chosen. "It is important to have someone outside the electoral competition who can arbitrate in case of partisan differences," said Senghane Senghor, in charge of legal affairs at the association Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l'homme (Raddho).

"It transcends political parties"

The new coalition must also ensure that it harmonises its speeches and should quickly set up a commission in charge of communication. "We have to work on polishing the speeches because we cannot speak like politicians and have inflammatory speeches," explains Senghane Senghor. The stakes are high to keep all the sensitivities on board the movement. The former Minister of Energy Thierno Alassane Sall has agreed to overcome these "dissonances" to join the platform.

"This is about defending the Constitution, not subjective and personal issues. This transcends political parties," explains the president of the Republic of Values party, who left his post after criticising the oil contracts signed by the 2019 government. Elected deputy in July 2022, he had refused to join the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi-Wallu Senegal (of which Ousmane Sonko is a member) which he criticized for its "radicalism" and "violence". "This time, it is not a political coalition, we will not go together to the presidential election," continues the politician, who ensures that the issue of a potential union in the second round has not yet been addressed.

Although the new platform is broadly based, the absence of certain heavyweights on the Senegalese political scene is nevertheless felt. This is the case of the Democratic Party of Senegal, the PDS, of former president Abdoulaye Wade. "We cannot sit down with Aminata Touré, former Minister of Justice under Macky Sall, who has charged Karim Wade," says Assane Ba, national secretary in charge of mobilization of the PDS.

The son of the former president, who has eyes on the presidential election, was convicted in 2015 for "illicit enrichment" and then pardoned before going into exile in Qatar. Idrissa Seck, former prime minister who came second in the 2019 presidential election and is now a candidate again, is also holding back.

The coordinator Mamadou Mbodj would like to convince all these actors: "We want to continue to expand the platform. We are also in discussion with the trade union centres and religious leaders. The question now is whether F24 can succeed where the M23 failed in 2011-2012. A demonstration is planned in Dakar on 12 May, an opportunity to measure the weight of the new platform.