Senegal President Macky Sall has continued to earn praise from regional and international leaders following his decision to withdraw his candidature in the general election set for 2024.
Sall who has been in office since 2012 announced his intention not to run for a reelection
"There has been much speculation and commentary on my eventual candidature in this election. The 2019 term was my second and last term,” Sall said.
"My decision, carefully considered... is not to run as a candidate in the upcoming election on Feb. 25, 2024. And this, even though the constitution grants me the right.”
Among those who have come out to publicly praise him are Africa Union chairman Moussa Faki, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, Niger President Mohamed Bazoum and Guinea Bissau's Umaro Sissoco Embalo among several others.
Faki has described him as a statesman saluting his “wise and salutary decision.”
“I express my admiration for the great statesman that he is for having privileged the best interests of Senegal and thus preserving the Senegalese democratic model which is the pride of Africa,” he said in a statement.
“I would like to express my deep esteem for President Sall and for the statesmanship he has shown,” Guterres said.
He said his decision is a very important example for his country and for the rest of the world.
Sall’s decision is expected to quell tensions in the Western nation where there have been fears he would follow other African leaders as that of Ivory Coast and Togo, who changed the Constitution as an excuse to reset their mandate and extend their stay in power.