DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal will head to the polls Sunday to vote in a tightly contested presidential race that has fired up political tensions and examined one in all West Africa’s most secure democracies.
The presidential election will happen after a lot uncertainty following President Macky Sall’s unsuccessful effort to delay the Feb. 25 vote till the top of the yr, sparking violent protests.
Within the newest flip of occasions main as much as Sunday’s vote, prime opposition chief Ousmane Sonko was launched from jail final week, triggering jubilant celebrations on the streets of Dakar and renewed pleasure in regards to the contest.
Sunday’s election is about to be Senegal’s fourth democratic switch of energy because it gained independence from France in 1960. The nation is seen as a pillar of stability in a area that has seen dozens of coups and tried coups lately.
Alioune Tine, founding father of Afrikajom, a Senegalese suppose tank, advised the Related Press that Sunday’s election had set a grim report within the nation’s democratic historical past, with rights teams accusing Sall’s authorities of repressing the media, civil society and the opposition.
“It was the longest and most violent presidential election course of, with probably the most deaths, accidents and political detainees,” stated Tine.
Human Rights Watch stated practically 1,000 opposition members and activists have been arrested throughout the nation within the final three years. However in a current interview with the AP, Sall denied that he’s making an attempt to carry on to energy.
There are 19 candidates within the race, the best quantity in Senegal’s historical past. These embrace a former prime minister, an in depth ally of Sonko — who was barred from operating — and a former mayor of Dakar. A runoff between main candidates is extensively anticipated.
Regardless of the violent upheavals in current months, analysts say unemployment is the chief concern for a majority of younger Senegalese. Round half of Senegal’s inhabitants of 17 million are beneath 18, in response to Afrobarometer, an impartial survey analysis group.
“The massive query proper now for the Senegalese election is how are we going to interrupt out of poverty,” stated Marième Wone Ly, a former Senegalese political celebration chief. “We are able to’t see the top of the tunnel. Individuals don’t see it.”
A couple of third of Senegalese reside in poverty, World Financial institution information reveals. 1000’s have fled in the direction of the West seeking financial alternative, enterprise dangerous and infrequently lethal journeys.
Analysts say Amadou Ba, a former prime minister, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who’s backed by Sonko, are more likely to emerge among the many front-runners. Faye was additionally free of jail final week, in time to spend the ultimate days of the run-up to Sunday’s vote on the marketing campaign path.
Sonko was disqualified from the poll in January due to a previous conviction for defamation, Senegal’s highest election authority stated on the time. His supporters keep his authorized troubles are a part of a authorities effort to derail his candidacy.
The favored opposition chief has confronted a slew of authorized troubles that began when he was accused of rape in 2021. He was acquitted of the cost however was convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to 2 years in jail final summer season, which ignited lethal protests throughout Senegal.
Senegal was gripped by lethal unrest final summer season when protesters took to the streets over issues that Sall would search a 3rd time period in workplace. Constitutional reforms prohibit a president from serving greater than two consecutive phrases as determined by a 2016 referendum.
Sall ultimately dominated out a 3rd time period.
Different contenders for prime spots within the race are Idrissa Seck, who has run in earlier races and served as prime minister some 20 years in the past earlier than being sacked and briefly jailed over corruption allegations, and Khalifa Sall, a former mayor of Dakar and longtime opposition determine. Sall and the president aren’t associated.
Anta Babacar Ngom, the primary lady to run for president in years, is the one feminine presidential candidate within the race, however few count on her to realize a big share of the vote.
Sall’s shock transfer to launch Sonko and Faye has helped to defuse tensions that had escalated in current months. Election observers say Sunday’s vote is extra more likely to be peaceable.
“Loosening the knot has tempered issues a little bit, and has introduced a little bit of calm to the general public enviornment,” stated Rokhiatou Gassama, a civil society election observer. “Based on my evaluation, we’re going to have a peaceable election.”
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Related Press author Babacar Dione in Dakar, Senegal, contributed.
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Comply with the AP’s protection of worldwide elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/
