The opposition coalition Takku Wallu Senegal has named former President Macky Sall as the head of its list for the upcoming early legislative elections in November 2024, according to two officials from the former majority, speaking on October 1.
This sets the stage for another showdown between Sall and current Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who have been at odds for years. Both men are expected to submit their candidacies in the coming days, pending approval from the General Directorate of Elections.
Ousmane Sonko, who has been imprisoned for over seven months under Macky Sall’s administration and barred from running in the March 2024 presidential election, has been named as the head of the list for his Pastef party in the November 17 elections, according to confirmation from Pastef on Tuesday. Sall and Sonko’s political rivalry, which spanned three years, resulted in violent clashes that claimed dozens of lives. The tension culminated in the 2024 presidential election, where Sonko’s deputy, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, defeated the outgoing president’s chosen successor, Amadou Ba, in the first round, securing over 54% of the vote.
Despite Faye’s victory, he inherited a parliament still controlled by the former majority. In September, Faye dissolved the parliament, triggering the early legislative elections. Sonko’s party aims to continue the momentum from the presidential election, hoping to secure a parliamentary majority for Faye to address the country’s worsening economic and social conditions. To strengthen their position, opposition parties have formed alliances with former adversaries.
Takku Wallu Senegal has partnered with another coalition, Samm Sa Kaddu, which includes prominent figures such as Khalifa Sall, the former mayor of Dakar, who was also imprisoned under Macky Sall’s presidency, according to Abdou Mbow. However, a third coalition, led by former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, has only agreed to align with the other two coalitions in three departments, including Dakar, Mbow added.