One year before the presidential election in February 2024, Khalifa Sall wants to get ahead. After a stay in New York from January 30th to February 1st, the former mayor of Dakar concludes an international tour in Canada on February 3rd.

Against a third term for Macky Sall

Before crossing the Atlantic, he traveled to Italy, the first leg of his journey, to meet with activists in the city of Bergamo, north of Milan. “It is a great pleasure for me to be among you, to listen to you, but above all to share with you a common goal,” he told them, painting a bleak picture of the political situation in Senegal and condemning the idea ​​​​A new candidacy for Macky Sall as the head of state keeps the suspense up.

“As I speak to you as a candidate for the Taxawu-Senegal Platform, unfortunately our country is passing through [événements] unpredictable, uncertain, [susceptibles de déboucher] about unrest, stressed Khalifa Sall. The Senegalese government, adept at vagueness and nebulosity, does not to stop Taking actions that can lead to chaos. It is here said, incorporated and understood that we do not accept any third party application. »

Ousmane Sonko blocks in Senegal

Because the former socialist is aware that the next presidential election will also be held in the diaspora, which has more than 500,000 voters (7% of the Senegalese electorate). This trip abroad should therefore allow him to unite Senegalese abroad around his candidacy, especially as Ousmane Sonko, Macky Sall’s main opponent and leader of the Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW) coalition, subjects the country to a travel ban.

The mayor of Ziguinchor, who has been under judicial supervision since March 2021, is indeed soon to be charged (the date of the trial is not yet known) with alleged rapes. A possible conviction could jeopardize his political ambitions.

The leader of Pastef is also embroiled in another legal battle, this time confronting him with Mame Mbaye Niang, the Minister of Tourism. The trial, which was postponed to February 16, could also thwart the opponent’s plans. Ousmane Sonko, who is accused of defamation, insult, forgery and use of forgeries in this case, faces “four months to two years in prison and a fine of 200,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs or one of these two penalties,” equivalent to a ban if he were finally convicted.

Khalifa Sall could benefit, but he’s not off the hook either. Sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 for “counterfeiting advertising literature and fraud with public funds”, he is still disqualified for the 2024 presidential election – like Karim Wade, the son of former head of state Abdoulaye Wade, in exile in Qatar and in 2015 for embezzling public funds to six years in prison and a fine of 138 billion CFA francs (210 million euros).

Not eligible?

Although these two opposition figures were granted presidential pardons in 2019 and 2016 respectively, they remain under a non-election conviction. “In accordance with Articles L29 and L30 of the Electoral Code WHO state that if they are sentenced to more than three months in prison without parole or more than six months with parole, they cannot be entered on the electoral rolls, Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade cannot stand for election. If they are not granted amnesty, their procedure will be revised or these articles will be amended,” summarizes political scientist Mouhamadou Mansour Ciss, a specialist in election issues.

On September 29, 2022, for reasons of “political openness and the consolidation of national dialogue”, the head of state asked the Council of Ministers around Justice Minister Ismaïla Madior Fall to examine the possibilities of an amnesty “for people who have lost their right to vote”.

But the measure was immediately rejected by the candidate of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). “Amnesty is for the guilty. This is not the case of former Minister Karim Wade. He doesn’t want amnesty, he’s asking for a repeat. Honor is priceless,” announced in October young africa, Nafissatou Diallo, the Secretary General for Communications of the PDS.

And Khalifa Sal? That’s what their supporters argue “his candidacy is not subject to any amnesty”. “No additional forfeiture of his civil and political rights was passed against him. He’s entitled,” said Ibrahima Ndiaye, his communications adviser.

However, the analyst Mouhamadou Mansour Ciss remains categorical: “The loss of rights and thus the blocking of eligibility is an additional sanction. The judge decides on a case-by-case basis whether to apply it or not. But with the current electoral code, even if the judge does not pronounce it, the loss of civil rights actually applies.”

This opens the legal debate. Back from his overseas tour, Khalifa Sall will continue his national tour which started on January 14th. After criss-crossing the departments of Rufisque and Diourbel, he was due to travel to Tambacounda and Kédougou in the south-east of the country on February 6th. “President Khalifa Sall is thus taking the measures of his legitimacy,” concludes Ibrahima Ndiaye. his candidacy East irreversible. »