Preliminary outcomes confirmed Faye within the lead, sparking cheerful celebrations within the streets of Dakar, the place supporters waved flags and set off fireworks following a day of voting that went largely easily.
Sall final yr dominated out working for a 3rd time period — which might have been broadly seen as unconstitutional — however then shocked many at dwelling and overseas together with his resolution final month to indefinitely delay the elections, marking one other first in Senegal’s historical past. He backed down following a choice by the constitutional court docket, and the elections Sunday will probably be held lower than a month after the unique election date, which had been Feb. 25.
“The brutal, unlawful method that Sall delayed the elections put our nation at an deadlock that we had been solely in a position to get out of due to the courts,” stated Maurice Soudieck Dione, a political science professor at Gaston Berger College in Saint-Louis, Senegal. “And now we’re going to have a really, very tight election.”
If no candidate wins greater than 50 p.c of the vote Sunday, then a runoff election will probably be held subsequent month.
What’s the worldwide significance of Senegal’s election?
Senegal is in a area beset by latest army coups, together with in neighboring Mali in 2020 and 2021 and Guinea in 2021. Extra just lately, coups in Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger final yr have come amid rising anti-Western sentiment.
In that context, Senegal — a coastal nation of 18 million — had turn into an more and more essential Western ally and brilliant spot for democracy. Since its independence from France in 1960, Senegal has had 4 transitions of energy and no army takeovers. However considerations emerged amongst home and worldwide observers lately as Sall grew to become more and more repressive, together with jailing journalists and opponents. Dozens of protesters died throughout violence that adopted trials towards Sonko, which his supporters stated had been politically motivated.
However Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst on the danger consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, stated that “the turmoil if something proves Senegal’s sturdy democratic tradition.”
“There was a president with more and more strongman tendencies,” he stated. “But additionally a vibrant civil society and powerful establishments that saved him in verify. It’s important that the elections go easily and transparently, however general, I’m optimistic.”
How do the principle candidates differ?
Bassirou Faye, 43, is an anti-establishment determine who’s in style with Senegal’s youths and has been boosted by his shut reference to Sonko. He has campaigned on renegotiating Senegal’s profitable oil and fuel contracts, reconsidering its relations with France, and reviewing its forex, which is pegged to the euro and shared by a number of different international locations in West Africa. Faye had been jailed on expenses together with defamation and contempt of court docket however was freed this month as a part of an amnesty deal.
In an interview with Reuters, Faye declined to say, if he prevails, what position Sonko may play in a future administration.
Amadou Ba, 62, beforehand served because the financial system and international minister earlier than being named prime minister in 2022. A member of the ruling occasion, he’s seen as somebody who would proceed the insurance policies put in place by Sall throughout his 12 years in workplace. Durmaz described him as a “wise politician” and a “behind-the-scenes technocrat who’s used to fixing issues however now finds himself on the general public stage.”
What’s Macky Sall’s legacy?
Sall’s 12 years in workplace have been marked by dramatic investments in infrastructure, together with a brand new rail system, a brand new airport and the creation of a metropolis, Diamniadio, which Sall says will probably be a second city hub exterior of the capital, Dakar. Senegal’s authorities additionally signed profitable contracts to take advantage of the nation’s oil and fuel reserves, which analysts say will dramatically enhance the nation’s GDP within the coming years.
On the world stage, Sall has turn into a world champion for the precise of Senegal and different growing nations to make use of their sources, together with fossil fuels, to industrialize and develop.
Sall, who served because the chair of the African Union and the Financial Neighborhood of West African States, has additionally made Senegal an more and more essential world participant, stated Alioune Tine, a rights professional and founding father of the AfrikaJom Middle, a Dakar-based analysis group. “Macky is the darling of world powers,” Tine stated. “Putin, Macron, the Individuals, all of them … he bolstered a convention of sturdy Senegalese diplomacy.”
However lately, Sall’s legacy has been marred by the rising repression. Senegal dropped 55 locations to 104th on the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters With out Borders between 2021 and 2023. Sall has additionally been broadly criticized for not ruling out a 3rd time period earlier; for his therapy of Sonko, who was underneath home arrest for months earlier than being freed underneath the amnesty deal; and the choice to delay the elections.
