He could not run for a 3rd term according to the Constitution: Senegal President Sall orders police to “shoot protesters”
Violence has erupted in protests across the country following the 'indefinite' postponement of elections scheduled for February 25. President Macky Sall has ordered police, who are intervening in the demonstrations that have claimed 3 lives so far, to “shoot the protesters.” According to the Constitution, Sall was not supposed to run for a 3rd term.
12punto
12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
Senegal President Macky Sall has made a statement following the violence that erupted after the 'indefinite' postponement of the elections scheduled for February 25.
OPPOSITION FILES CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
Following the cancellation decision made shortly before the election, opposition candidates invited the public to protest.
Serving his second term as president, Sall was not supposed to run for a 3rd term according to the Constitution.
According to a report in the French outlet Mediapart, Senegal, the only West African country that has not experienced a coup, may lose that title following these events. While no election has ever been postponed in the country before, opposition parties have filed a criminal complaint against the decision.
According to a claim in Al Jazeera, the real reason behind the postponement decision is Sall's fear that the popularity of Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who heads the coalition he supports, is declining.
Under normal circumstances, the official campaign process in Senegal was set to begin on February 4 and continue until election day.
Macky Sall announced the decision for an indefinite postponement in a televised speech on February 3.
Sall cited the Election Commission's improper disqualification of certain candidates as the reason. According to Mediapart, none of the disqualified candidates have a political conflict of interest with Sall. However, it is believed that Sall is using the disqualification of candidates to extend his time in power.
OPPOSITION LEADER IN PRISON
Ousmane Sonko, one of the strongest opposition leaders in the country, was previously barred from participating in the elections on the grounds that he had a criminal record. Sonko was tried and convicted for 'inciting public rebellion.' Sonko is still being held in prison.
"MY GOAL IS RECONCILIATION, SHOOT THE PROTESTERS"
As tensions continued to rise in the country and protesters began organizing large-scale demonstrations in the capital, Dakar, President Sall ordered the police to shoot the protesters. Sall claims his goal is to resolve the disputes in the country and initiate 'reconciliation' and 'national dialogue' processes.