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Senegalese voters have a packed area of 19 candidates to select from after they go to the polls this month in a good election to elect a brand new chief to exchange President Macky Sall, whose delays have rocked the West African nation. This has raised issues for the way forward for democracy.
Voting will happen on March 24 after Sael's try to postpone the election, initially deliberate for February, was overturned by Senegal's prime electoral authority after weeks of violent protests.
The Constitutional Council's resolution has been welcomed by many within the nation – however observers warn it will not be the final twist within the saga. Already, a number of politicians have petitioned the courts to hunt a recent postponement of the election, claiming that the applying course of for candidates was flawed.
“Each week you will have a brand new type of scandal – that is Senegal,” stated Ndongo Samba Silla, head of analysis and coverage at IDEA, a community of political and financial analysts. “There could possibly be new developments within the coming days,” he cautioned.
In the meantime, candidates have lower than two weeks left to win the hearts of voters in the course of the month of Ramzan, a interval normally dedicated to religious contemplation and worship quite than politics.
Right here's a have a look at the principle candidates – and a typical thread that connects a few of them:
bassirou diomaye faye
The 49-year-old tax inspector is the candidate of an opposition coalition that features members of the dissolved PASTEF celebration of Ousmane Sonko, a firebrand politician and staunch critic of Sall.
Sonko, who got here third within the 2019 presidential election, was seen as the preferred candidate for this yr's vote. However the opposition chief was detained in July after being convicted of “morally corrupting” youth and later barred from standing trial on defamation prices. Faye is known as by Sonko as his successor.
Sonko, like Faye, was a tax inspector.
Faye will attempt to benefit from Sonko's reputation, particularly amongst Senegal's unemployed youth. Three in 10 Senegalese aged 18 to 35 are unemployed. Youth unemployment is an issue that has grow to be much more acute because of the tempo of inhabitants progress – it doubles each 25 years, in keeping with Afro Barometer knowledge.
However Faye has been in precautionary custody since April, whereas her face has adorned the T-shirts of opposition supporters who’ve chanted her title at marketing campaign rallies. It’s anticipated that he shall be launched quickly below the amnesty regulation.
“Free or not, nearly all of Senegalese have already made their alternative. Thiaba Camara, president of the civil society group Deman Senegal, stated anybody who needs to vote for Faye will vote for him.
Faye has referred to as for the institution of a brand new nationwide foreign money; renegotiating contracts between the federal government and companies in sectors starting from vitality and mining to fishing; and discount of the powers of the presidency, together with reintroducing the place of Vice President. He has additionally promised to equally distribute earnings from the gasfield, which is anticipated to start manufacturing this yr.
amadou ba
Ba, a former Prime Minister, was additionally as soon as a tax inspector. B. A Is the presidential candidate of the Salles Alliance for the Republic Get together. He ran the Ministry of FInside and Financial Planning from 2013 to 2019 and was the nation's prime diplomat in 2019 and 2020.
Ba's victory would imply continuity of coverage with the earlier authorities, one thing that might seemingly reassure international traders and assure a consolidated fiscal response at a time when Senegal wants the assist of the Worldwide Financial Fund, which in June permitted a $1.8 billion mortgage. Billion greenback mortgage was permitted.
However as a result of the 62-year-old was a part of Sall's authorities, he confronted public discontent over the rollback of civil liberties below the outgoing president. Dozens of individuals have been killed and greater than 1,000 jailed up to now three years of political turmoil.
“Ba is perceived as a candidate who symbolizes the previous system, which by no means diverged from the buildings established since independence,” stated Hawa Ba, head of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa.
caliph sall
One other candidate for president is the two-time mayor of Dakar (no relation to the president).
The broadly well-liked politician was jailed for 5 years in 2018 on fraud prices that his supporters stated was politically motivated. The conviction barred him from working within the following yr's presidential election, by which he was seen as a robust rival to Macky Sall.
The previous lawmaker, who educated as a trainer, was freed in 2019, following a presidential pardon.
Sustainable growth has been the main target of Khalifa Sall's election marketing campaign. He has stated that he needs to give attention to accountable water administration and equitable land distribution. Greater than 70 % of Senegal's inhabitants relies on the agriculture and livestock sector.
Idrissa Sec
Till April, Seck was head of the Financial, Social and Surroundings Council.
The 63-year-old secured 21 % of the votes within the 2019 presidential election and got here second within the race. Following the vote, his Revami celebration joined President Sal's ruling coalition.
Stories counsel that Seck and Sall had a falling out when Sall introduced his opposition to any candidacy for a 3rd time period, pointing to the latter's questionable ambitions. Seck additionally argued that Sonko ought to have been allowed to run within the 2024 elections.
Mohammed Boun Abdallah Dion
Prime Minister from 2014 to 2019, Dion served as head of the Central Financial institution of West African States and the United Nations Industrial Growth Group. The company's mandate is to assist financial growth in creating international locations and transition economies.
He’s a pc engineer by coaching. Dion has pledged to be a “president of reconciliation” if elected and has emphasised “financial sovereignty” for Senegal.
Anta Babakar Nagam
Ngome is the one feminine candidate and, if elected, can be the primary girl to function President of Senegal. A political newcomer, the 40-year-old runs Senegal's largest poultry firm, which was based by his father.
She has stated that she needs to advertise the personal sector, promote free well being care, and reform the schooling system, together with introducing native languages along with French.