DAKAR, 17 December 2020 – A three-day workshop of pro-democracy activists in Dakar has reiterated opposition for unconstitutional rule and term extensions.
The workshop wrapped up Friday in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.
Sponsored by the Washington, DC-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), it featured Aminata Toure, the former Senegalese Justice Minister, as keynote speaker.
Aminatou Toure – Photo Al Jazeera
The workshop held in the thick fog of doubt that surrounds legal debates whether it is okay or not for Senegal’s current president Macky Sall to run for a third presidential term.
Fifteen revisions were made to Senegal’s Constitution through a referendum on 20 March 2016.
The most important modification shortened the presidential term from seven years to five years with the presidents elected after 2019 having a possibility to run for up to three consecutive terms.
Senegalese President Macky Sall
Macky Sall, who was re-elected on 24 February 2019 for a second seven-year term is, like his predecessors, limited to two consecutive terms of seven years each.
Pro-democracy activists in Senegal have shown remarkable resilience in opposing term extensions.
In 2012 when former president Abdoulaye Wade tried to run for a third term.
Protests Denied Wade a Term Extension – Photo Reuters
The bid was defeated in the streets as Senegalese citizens mobilized in protests which culminated in Abdoulaye Wade giving up on the attempt.
