Senegal is on course for presidential elections on Sunday, following a wave of public unrest that was sparked by current president, Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the elections. This delay has fuelled international criticism and concerns over him exceeding his constitutional tenure. Senegal, a notable symbol of democratic stability in Western Africa – a region plagued by multiple coups in recent years – is keenly seeking a reliable election to redeem its image. A new president will assume power for the first time in the country’s history without having a military coup.
Entering the race for the presidency are nineteen candidates, but only two are seen as serious contenders: Amadou Ba, the ex-prime minister with support from the ruling coalition and the existing president, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the main opposition candidate who assumed leadership after Ousmane Sonko was disqualified due to a libel conviction.
Ba, 62, has previously held Senegal’s highest diplomatic position and managed the country’s finances. It is expected that Ba will uphold the Sall administration’s policies that have driven economic growth above 5% annually over the past ten years.
On the other hand, Faye, 43, a former tax inspector with no government experience, proposes a revision of oil and gas contracts signed with global investors such as BP Plc, Endeavour Mining, and Kosmos Energy. Faye also plans to reconsider the use of the CFA franc, a euro-linked regional currency, if its management is not restructured. Another priority for Faye is re-examining Senegal’s relationship with France, its ex-colonial ruler.
To secure the presidency, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of votes. If this is unattained, the two front runners will face a runoff next month. Over seven million voters have registered for the election.
The emphasis is currently on the elections going smoothly and being accepted by voters, rather than the subsequent events, according to Mucahid Durmaz from risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft. He predicts a second round and anticipates that the backing of Mr Sonko among the nation’s vast youthful urban population will enhance the opposition campaign, increasing Faye’s chances.
Originally, the elections were set to occur on 25th February, but they were postponed by Mr Sall due to worries regarding the examination of candidate qualifications. As legislators attempted to alter the constitution to prolong his tenure by a minimum of 10 months, the country’s highest court declared that it would be unlawful for him to maintain his position beyond the end of his second term on 2nd April.
In a bid to placate heightened tensions, a contentious amnesty legislation was implemented by Mr Sall, aimed at individuals who had been found guilty of crimes associated with political demonstrations since February 2021. Mr Faye and Mr Sonko, both previously incarcerated, were judged as suitable for release based on this law’s guidelines.
The successor of Mr Sall must rebuild the trust between the presidential office and the citizens, which was severed due to the election delay, as noted by Babacar Ndiaye, a political commentator associated with the Dakar-based Wathi think tank.
The future president will also be required to ensure a more equitable distribution of gains from the burgeoning economy and the projected rise in oil and gas. Approximately one-third of the population of 18 million lives in poverty as per the World Bank, and vast numbers of Senegalese youth, having few employment opportunities, have chosen to emigrate, with many relocating to Europe or the US, according to Bloomberg.