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| Senegal President Macky Sall says he won't run for third term | Senegal President Macky Sall says he won't run for third term |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| "Senegal is more than me, and is full of capable leaders," Macky Sall has said | "Senegal is more than me, and is full of capable leaders," Macky Sall has said |
| Senegal's President Macky Sall has ruled out seeking re-election in 2024, ending widespread speculation that he would run for a third term. | Senegal's President Macky Sall has ruled out seeking re-election in 2024, ending widespread speculation that he would run for a third term. |
| "The 2019 term was my second and last term," he said in a televised address. | "The 2019 term was my second and last term," he said in a televised address. |
| Rumours he would try to extend his grip on power have fuelled unrest several times since 2021, with dozens killed. | Rumours he would try to extend his grip on power have fuelled unrest several times since 2021, with dozens killed. |
| The opposition had called for fresh protests if Mr Sall decided to run again - which many legal experts say would have violated the constitution. | |
| In his address late on Monday, Mr Sall, 61, said: "There has been much speculation and commentary on my eventual candidature on this election. | In his address late on Monday, Mr Sall, 61, said: "There has been much speculation and commentary on my eventual candidature on this election. |
| "My decision, carefully considered... is not to run as a candidate in the upcoming election. | "My decision, carefully considered... is not to run as a candidate in the upcoming election. |
| "Senegal is more than me, and is full of capable leaders for the country's development," he added. | "Senegal is more than me, and is full of capable leaders for the country's development," he added. |
| Social media shut over deadly Senegal protests | Social media shut over deadly Senegal protests |
| Recently there had been anger in Senegal over the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison for the crime of "corrupting youth". | Recently there had been anger in Senegal over the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison for the crime of "corrupting youth". |
| The 48-year-old was found guilty of acting immorally towards an individual younger than 21, but cleared of rape charges. | The 48-year-old was found guilty of acting immorally towards an individual younger than 21, but cleared of rape charges. |
| Thousands of protesters took to the streets of several cities and at least 16 people were killed. | Thousands of protesters took to the streets of several cities and at least 16 people were killed. |
| Sonko denies any wrongdoing, and his supporters say the trial was a political ploy to disqualify him from entering the presidential race. | Sonko denies any wrongdoing, and his supporters say the trial was a political ploy to disqualify him from entering the presidential race. |
| Senegal was rocked by deadly violence after Ousmane Sonko's court verdict in June | Senegal was rocked by deadly violence after Ousmane Sonko's court verdict in June |
| Mr Sall has been in office since 2012. | Mr Sall has been in office since 2012. |
| In 2016, he changed the constitution to set a two-term presidential limit. But his supporters argued he could still run for a third term as his first was under the previous constitution. | In 2016, he changed the constitution to set a two-term presidential limit. But his supporters argued he could still run for a third term as his first was under the previous constitution. |
| Speculation that he would try to cling on to power has dented Senegal's reputation as a relatively stable democratic nation in the restive West African region. | Speculation that he would try to cling on to power has dented Senegal's reputation as a relatively stable democratic nation in the restive West African region. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Macky Sall | Macky Sall |
| Ousmane Sonko | Ousmane Sonko |
| Senegal | Senegal |
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