President Macky Sall pledged on Tuesday to consolidate democracy, his first public reaction to the unrest in early June, by beginning a state visit to Portugal on Tuesday in Lisbon.
“We will continue our march towards the economic emergence and consolidation of democracy and freedom in Senegal, with respect of course to the rule of law.”, he assured the press in a statement after a meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
“I will ensure that Senegal remains within the highest democratic standards,” he said, as his government is criticized for its response to the unrest in the country in early June.
After the sentencing of Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison in a case of morals, Senegal was the scene of violence from 1 to 3 June that caused at least 16 deaths according to the authorities, 23 according to the NGO Amnesty International and 26 according to the opposition.
I will also ensure that our country is not destabilized, whatever the origin of this desire to destabilize. We will ensure this very vigorously,” warned the Senegalese president, who was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019, but who is still unclear about his desire to seek a third term in 2024.
We have an economic profile that has become very attractive. Starting this year, we will start oil and gas development. This can also explain this frenzy,” added Macky Sall.
Source: Seneweb
