Senegalese President Macky Sall recently gave an exclusive interview to France 24 and RFI during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During this interview, he addressed several current issues, including the coup d’état in Niger which took place on July 26. Macky Sall affirmed that, although the diplomatic solution was favored, the option of military intervention was always considered if necessary.
Another issue that was addressed during this interview concerns Macky Sall’s decision not to run for a third term in the election scheduled for February 2024. The Senegalese president stressed that he had the legal right to run for office. new, but that he had an “honor code” which prevented him from doing so. This decision reflects his desire to respect presidential term limits and promote a peaceful democratic transition.
The situation of Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, currently in detention, was also mentioned during the interview. Macky Sall refrained from commenting on the matter due to ongoing legal proceedings, but he stressed that the dissolution of Sonko’s political party, PASTEF, was justified. According to the Senegalese president, Sonko’s calls for insurrection and the destruction of the state justified this decision.
Finally, an interesting statement from Macky Sall was his response to a question about the possibility of assuming the post of Secretary General of the United Nations in the future. He said he would not reject the possibility if several countries asked him to do so. However, he clarified that this was not part of his “primary vocation” and that he was more focused on his current presidential term.
This interview with President Macky Sall provided a better understanding of his political vision and his positions on major current issues. Its desire to favor diplomacy while retaining the possibility of military intervention if necessary demonstrates its desire to maintain stability and security in the region.
Furthermore, his decision not to run for a third term and his justification based on a “code of honor” reflect his commitment to democratic governance and a peaceful transition of power.
Finally, the absence of comment on the affair of the opponent Ousmane Sonko while justifying the dissolution of his party shows Macky Sall’s desire to respect legal procedures and to face the threats weighing on the stability of the State.
In conclusion, this interview with Senegalese President Macky Sall allowed us to address important current issues and to better understand his political vision. His responses reveal a leader committed to diplomacy, respect for presidential term limits and the stability of his country.