By John Ikani
President Macky Sall of Senegal has rubbished claims that any move from him to seek a third term would be unconstitutional.
According to the country’s opposition, Sall, who was elected in 2012 and 2019 is constitutionally prohibited from running for office again in the next election set for February 2024.
Sall who has neither confirmed no denied whether he intends to seek a third term, argues that his first term falls outside the constitutional reform that limits presidential terms to two consecutive terms of five years each.
“Legally speaking, the debate has been settled for a long time,” he said in an interview with French magazine L’Express posted online Monday.
While noting that the question of whether he should seek a third term is a political one, Sall added that he would reveal his position first to his supporters, then to the Senegalese people when the time comes.
In the interview, Sall also addressed his main political rival, Ousmane Sonko.
Sonko is currently facing two court cases that could jeopardize his eligibility for the presidential election.
The opposition leader claims that the accusations are part of a scheme to undermine his candidacy.
Last year, Sonko’s court summons in an alleged rape case caused the most severe riots in Senegal in years, resulting in the deaths of at least a dozen people.
The defamation trial against Sonko last week led to clashes between his supporters and security forces.
Sall accused Sonko of “manipulating” the streets and warned those who believe they can intimidate the government and obstruct justice that they are deceiving themselves.
Despite the political tension, Sall maintained that Senegal is a legitimate democracy, and if it were not, Sonko’s fate would have been determined long ago.
