During the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Senegalese President Macky Sall granted an exclusive interview to France 24 and RFI. During this interview, he addressed several current topics.
The coup d’état which took place in Niger on July 26 was one of the points discussed during the interview. Macky Sall declared that if the diplomatic solution was favored to emerge from the crisis, the option of military intervention was not excluded. This statement shows the Senegalese president’s commitment to maintaining stability and security in the region.
Another important question to which Macky Sall answered concerns his decision to give up running for a third term in the election scheduled for February 2024. Legally, he had the right to represent himself, but he mentioned a “code of honor ” which prevents him from doing so. This decision demonstrates his commitment to democracy and respecting term limits.
The interview also addressed the subject of the imprisonment of opponent Ousmane Sonko. Macky Sall preferred not to comment on this matter due to the ongoing legal proceedings. However, he stressed that the dissolution of Ousmane Sonko’s party, PASTEF, was justified because of its calls for “insurrection and the destruction of the state.” This response shows the Senegalese president’s firm stance towards those who threaten the stability of the country.
Finally, Macky Sall suggested that he could assume responsibility for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations in the future, if several countries asked him to do so. However, he clarified that this did not correspond to his “first vocation”. This declaration gives a glimpse of the international ambitions of the Senegalese president and his desire to contribute to global diplomacy.
In conclusion, the interview with Senegalese President Macky Sall during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly highlighted his political vision, his desire to maintain stability in the region, his attachment to democratic principles and its openness to international responsibilities. Macky Sall thus appears as a committed and thoughtful leader, concerned about the well-being of his country and a potential player on the international scene.