A new opposition coalition was formed on Saturday November 11, less than four months before the presidential election of February 25, 2024 in Senegal. The Front for Inclusivity and Transparency of Elections (FITE) – which also means ” courage “ in Wolof – denounces “democratic retreat” according to him, what the country experienced under the two mandates of President Macky Sall, who took over at the head of the country in 2012.
Within this movement, some of the most important adversaries of the ruling coalition have joined forces: several members of the ex-Pastef, the party of opponent Ousmane Sonko which was dissolved in July, and Aminata “Mimi” Touré, Macky Sall’s former prime minister, moved to the opposition in July 2022. The president’s former ally responds to World Africa.
Coalitions already exist in the opposition, such as Yewwi Askan Wi or F24. Why launch FITE?
Aminata Touré. The situation has evolved. The F24, a coalition which is also made up of civil society, was formed around the fight against the third term of President Macky Sall and it obtained an important victory [le chef de l’Etat sortant a annoncé en juillet qu’il ne se représentait pas]. As for Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW), of which I was not a member, it has undergone an evolution [avec l’exclusion du parti Taxawu Sénégal de Khalifa Sall].
We now consider that the electoral question is essential. This is to ensure that the election will be inclusive and transparent, with the participation of all candidates, including Ousmane Sonko [actuellement en détention et radié des listes électorales].
We also fight against any attempt to eliminate candidates through the sponsorship system [chaque candidat doit recueillir les signatures de 0,6 %, soit quelque 44 000 électeurs] from the electoral register, 13 deputies or 120 mayors and presidents of departmental councils. All opposition candidates have a common interest in being united against the administration in charge of elections, particularly for the control of sponsorships which must be done with the teams of experts that we have set up. For now, it’s about pooling our efforts. We will then see how far we can continue in this dynamic.
You come from different parties, what unites you?
We have decided to take legal action against Macky Sall’s decision to change the composition of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). The power in place replaced the members of this body less than four months before the election, this is unheard of and this is worrying about the conditions in which the election will take place.
Moreover, this contravenes the rules laid down by ECOWAS which stipulate that no change in the system of organizing elections must be made six months before the vote. Especially since at least one of the new members is part of the ruling party and this violates the provisions of the CENA which is supposed to be autonomous.
You yourself were a member of the presidential coalition, Benno Bokk Yaakaar (BBY), until July 2022. Isn’t your alliance with Pastef, which was the main opposition party until its dissolution, against -nature ?
No way. We founded the F24 together on the idea of respect for the Constitution and fought together for the defense of democracy and good governance. I was a member of the National Assembly, first under the colors of BBY then as an independent. We had regular joint initiatives with Pastef deputies, including a motion of censure against the government which was not adopted. For a year, we have been working together on the themes of constitutional reform and the fight against corruption.
The FITE brings together several candidates declared for the presidential election, including you. Is a single application considered?
We are not yet at a common minimum program but the possibilities are open. After the first round of the presidential election, I hope that FITE members will unite behind the coalition candidate who arrives in the second round.
Wouldn’t we need an alliance from the first round, on February 25?
In 2012, there were thirteen candidates facing outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade. This did not prevent Macky Sall, then opposition candidate, from winning the vote in the second round. For the moment, the most important thing is to ensure effective control of sponsorships, that those who want to be candidates can do so, and that the vote is transparent. Diversity in the first round would allow each opposition candidate to mobilize their voters against the candidate of the presidential coalition Benno Bokk Yaakaar (BBY), Amadou Ba, who represents the continuity of Macky Sall’s regime.
Under these conditions, do you think you have a chance of competing with Amadou Ba, the Prime Minister, who will defend the colors of the presidential majority?
Our coalition is broader than theirs. The common goal is to rule out Macky Sall’s candidate, who risks not going to the second round given the divisions within the presidential camp, which is split into several pieces: former Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne is a candidate as well as former Minister of Agriculture Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, among others.