By Mustapha Jarju
Former president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade among other world presidents has applauded President Macky Sall for announcing not to contest in the next presidential election due in 2024, while his predecessor ex-President Abdoulaye Wade said President Macky Sall`s decision is a noble one.
Ex-President Abdoulaye Wade congratulated President MackySall and called on the people of Senegal to support the candidacy of his son Karim Wade, who is expected to be shortly invested by the PDS party for the Senegalese 2024 presidential election.
Meanwhile, Gambian President Adama Barrow also commended the decision of President Macky Sall not to run for office for 3rd term. “It is a courageous move and will strengthen democracy in Senegal, the Sub-region, and Africa at large.”
However, the Secretary of State of the United States of America Antony Blinken also welcomed the decision of President MackySall, which put an end to the year of uncertainty surrounding Sal`s candidacy for a third term, by announcing that he will not be a presidential candidate in Senegal`s February 2024 presidential election.
“This decision by Macky Sall is perceived as a significant gesture for democracy in Senegal, as a president in office, he had maintained suspense about his candidacy. This uncertainty had fueled debates and speculation within the political class and civil society”, he wrote in his tweet.
The US State Secretary said Sall’s declaration is an example for the region, saying America will continue to partner with the Senegalese electoral institutions and civil society as well as the Senegalese people in favor of democracy in Senegal.