This is an unprecedented situation in a country with a great democracy. Less than 5 months before the first round of the Presidential election, no one can say in Senegal who will actually be a candidate for the supreme office. It is true that the number of suitors is close to a hundred. But all serious observers know that the majority of self-proclaimed candidates will not pass the sponsorship barrier. Despite the relaxations that have recently occurred in the Electoral Code, making it possible to be sponsored by 0.8% of the electorate, or by 13 parliamentarians, or even by 120 local elected officials. A good number of our current aspiring heads of state do not seem able to meet any of these conditions. And for those to whom the public reputation lends this capacity, many cannot embark on the collection campaign. And all this, due to the will of one person, namely the outgoing President, Macky Sall.

The Brics Still Too Far from the Brincss

The latter, after dropping his fragmentation bomb, announcing his desire not to run for a third term at the head of the country, sowed dismay among many of his supporters, while allowing some to leave the field open to attacks. long-repressed ambitions. If the leaders of the ruling coalition, Benno bokk yaakaar (Bby), found it wiser to give him the opportunity to choose the champion who will have the difficult task of wearing their colours during the next electoral contests, they were unable to prevent several of them from expressing in broad daylight their wish to be designated as a “single candidate”, on the pretext that they would be best able to help their political camp win.

We thus see, in the media, articles or broadcasts in praise of candidates such as Amadou Ba, the Prime Minister, Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, the president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese), Amadou Mame Diop, the president of the National Assembly, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (Maersa), also mayor of Linguère, Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne, the former Prime Minister… Alongside these alleged heavyweights, we see contenders like Moustapha Diop, minister and mayor of Louga, emerging, El Hadj Mamadou Diao, mayor of Kolda and CEO of the Cdc, Serigne Guèye Diop, mayor of Sandiara and minister-advisor to the Presidency, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, ex-minister and CEO of Fonsis. Not to mention a certain number of candidates who’s ban has ended, such as the mayor of Grand-Dakar, former ministers Alioune Sarr, Aminata Assome Diatta, or Coumba Ndoffène Diouf. And it should be noted that the list is not exhaustive. It almost seems like every dawn produces a new candidate.

The Benno Candidate to Be Known this Saturday

And we are only talking about the presidential movement. As Madiambal Diagne noted in his column last Monday, the situation is no different in the opposition. The side lining of Ousmane Sonko caused the same upheaval as in the opposite camp, all his so-called supporters seeming to be ready to claim the legitimacy to continue his fight, at a time when some of his activists want to convince themselves that they still have a chance of seeing him come out of prison to beat everyone to the post… The risk of all this is that, if President Macky Sall does not deliver the Nation by quickly declaring his choice, he risks pushing for a radicalization of certain candidates, who would not be included in the choice he will have to make, if it is not in their favor. People like Aly Ngouille Ndiaye and Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr repeat over and over again that there can be no other choice apart from theirs within Benno. Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo thinks he can tip the scales in his favor thanks to his Fouta activists. What will be left of Benno if these people end up slamming the door in frustration?

Even counting on a fragmentation of the opposition which we know could not present a united bloc, Yaw having finished being shattered, Macky’s candidate, faced with a significant revolt from certain fringes of the majority, would be struggling to get through the first round.

We could invoke the madness of grandeur of some who saw themselves as too tall. But in reality, could there be any other responsibility than that of Macky Sall, who is, until proven otherwise, the only glue that allows all these contrary ambitions to be held in check? Whatever the reason, the charade of consultations to determine Benno’s best candidate might not have taken so long. If he knew that he was going to let go of the reins of power at the end of next March, the president of the Bby Coalition had time to prepare a successor, even if he did not want to expose it by announcing too early/ and he still had enough authority to impose it without too much disruption on his supporters. However, the more time passes, the less power he retains. And by dragging things out, it gives some the feeling of moving forward reluctantly, which allows the rumour to speculate on a possible extension of the current presidential mandate, for failure to be able to organize the Presidential election in time. We of course know that this is not possible, but allowing such nonsense to continue does not guarantee a peaceful climate in the country.

By Mohamed GUEYE / mgueye@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH / Serigne S. DIAGNE