Like an air of deja vu. Twelve years after the June 23 Movement (M23) formed to block the third term of former President Abdoulaye Wade, the platform “of the living forces of the nation F24” was born on April 16 in Senegal, bringing together at least 150 political parties and civil society organizations. This time, it is Macky Sall who is in the sights, accused of keeping his candidacy for a third term for the presidential election in February 2024 vague. “I understand the concern of the Senegalese but the time will come, it’s soon, “assured the Head of State, Saturday, April 22 on the airwaves of the Senegalese private radio RFM.
The heterogeneous members of the F24 Platform have set themselves several priorities: the fight against Macky Sall’s third candidacy, the release of political prisoners, the end of bans on demonstrations, as well as the repeal of certain articles of the electoral code relating to the ineligibility of candidates. Among this massive front are political leaders who have declared themselves candidates for the 2024 election, such as Ousmane Sonko, the former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall, Déthié Fall and Aminata Touré.
Faced with the risk of seeing one of them use the new formation to serve his own purpose, it was decided to entrust the coordination to a member from civil society. It was the former trade unionist and figurehead of the M23, Mamadou Mbodj, who was chosen. “It is important to have someone outside the electoral competition and who can arbitrate in the event of partisan differences”, justifies Senghane Senghor, in charge of legal affairs for the association African Meeting for the Defense of Human Rights. (Raddho).
“It transcends political parties”
The new coalition must also take care to harmonize its speeches and should quickly set up a commission in charge of communication. “We have to work on polishing the speeches because we cannot speak like politicians and have inflammatory speeches,” says Senghane Senghor. The stakes are high to keep all sensitivities on board. Former energy minister Thierno Alassane Sall agreed to overcome these “dissonances” to join the platform.
“It is about defending the Constitution and not about subjective and personal problems. This transcends political parties, “explains the president of the Republic of Values party, who left his post after criticizing the oil contracts signed by the 2019 government. Elected deputy in July 2022, he refused to join the opposition coalition. Yewwi Askan Wi-Wallu Senegal (including Ousmane Sonko) whom he criticized for his “radicality” and “violence”. “This time, it’s not about a political coalition, we will not go to the presidential election together”, continues the politician, who assures that the question of a potential union in the second round does not has not yet been addressed.
If the new platform brings together a wide audience, the absence of certain heavyweights from the Senegalese political scene is nevertheless felt. This is the case of the Democratic Party of Senegal, the PDS, of former President Abdoulaye Wade. “We cannot sit down with Aminata Touré, former justice minister under Macky Sall who charged Karim Wade,” protested Assane Ba, national secretary in charge of mobilizing the PDS.
The son of the former president, who has views on the presidential election, was convicted in 2015 of “illicit enrichment” and then pardoned before leaving to live in exile in Qatar. Idrissa Seck, ex-prime minister who came second in the 2019 presidential election and again a candidate has also held back so far.
As many actors as the coordinator Mamadou Mbodj would like to convince: “We want to continue to expand the platform. We are also in discussion with the trade unions and the religious. The question now is whether the F24 can succeed where the M23 failed in 2011-2012. A demonstration is planned in Dakar on May 12, the opportunity to measure the weight of the new platform.