Senegal’s presidency stated on Monday that it has removed former prime minister and politician Idrissa Seck from his obligations as head of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, allowing him to run in the country’s next presidential election in February.
Seck, 63, finished second in the 2019 presidential election, earning 21% of the vote. As a result, his Rewmi party joined President Macky Sall’s Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition.
On Saturday, Seck announced his decision to resign from the council and run again, joining Aminata Toure, another former prime minister, and opposition leader Ousmane Sonko as declared candidates.
He must also withdraw his party from the ruling coalition in order to run for office. The effect on Benno Bokk Yakaar’s slim parliamentary majority is unknown.
The political situation is tight. Demonstrations have turned violent in reaction to Sall’s refusal to seek a third term, despite the fact that Senegal’s constitution only allows for two terms in office.
However, there is a danger that Sall would use a recent constitutional amendment to reset his mandate. Sonko supporters have also often marched against what they regard as politically motivated judicial procedures against him in an attempt to undermine his presidential ambition.
Seck announced his candidacy while lamenting the chaos and said that Sonko should be allowed to run.
In Senegal, it is permitted to differ openly; but, no one should be silenced via persecution, narrow-mindedness, intellectual terrorism, or physical force.
