Since stepping down on April 2, Macky Sall has quickly re-entered the political arena in preparation for the early legislative elections slated for November 17. He has been designated as the head of the Takku-Wallu (Together to Save Senegal) coalition list and is campaigning virtually, backed by some supporters of his nonagenarian predecessor, Abdoulaye Wade.
In an effort to rally support against “accumulated dangers,” Sall has agreed in principle to allow the leading opposition lists—Takku-Wallu, Samm Sa Kaddu (Keep Your Promise), and Jamm Ak Njarign (Peace and Prosperity)—to collaborate in various constituencies, maximizing opposition strength in this election. In a widely circulated letter, he stated that inaction would equate to an abdication of his responsibility as a “citizen sufficiently aware of state affairs” and portrayed a “bleak picture” of the current government after just eight months. He specifically criticized the rapid decline in national circumstances, noting economic slowdown, institutional tensions, and challenges in agriculture and construction.
Despite criticisms leveled at his administration over the past twelve years, Macky Sall outlined the achievements of his presidency, particularly in infrastructure, economic growth, and social justice. He promised to implement necessary reforms if his coalition secures a majority in parliament. “The Takku-Wallu Senegal coalition, composed of members experienced in public management, is well-prepared to execute these reforms promptly,” he stated.
Macky Sall and the Takku-Wallu coalition have committed to restoring institutional functionality, lowering the cost of living, and facilitating the professional integration of young graduates, while fostering a collaborative relationship with the current President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The former president emphasized that his primary goal is to reestablish national stability and the proper functioning of republican institutions through the formation of a government of national unity.
He also pledged to convene a reconciliation conference within three months of the elections, alongside plans for an emergency program for flood victims and initiatives aimed at youth employment and combating illegal emigration.
Among their priorities are rationalizing state spending, reducing living costs, resuming suspended projects, and revitalizing the Plan Sénégal Emergent (PSE), which has been replaced by the new authorities with Vision Sénégal 2050, a change that Macky Sall criticized as a “bad copy” of his original PSE.
The leader of the Takku-Wallu coalition called on Senegalese citizens to unite in facing the “accumulated dangers,” assuring them that this collective effort would enable them to “build together the Senegal of our dreams, a reconciled Senegal, and continue its determined march toward progress, peace, and national cohesion.”
ODL/sf/ac/lb/abj/APA