Senegal votes in tightly contested presidential race after months of unrest
- President Macky Sall is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term. The electoral process has been marred by violence, with many opposition protesters jailed
- Senegal has nevertheless stood apart in a region where the military has seized power from civilian governments in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso
Senegalese lined up to vote on Sunday in a tightly contested presidential race following months of uncertainty and unrest that has tested the West African nation’s reputation as a stable democracy in a region shaken by a wave of coups in recent years.
The election comes after President Macky Sall unsuccessfully tried to postpone the February 25 vote until the end of the year, sparking violent protests. Sall is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term. As a result, the vote is taking place during Ramadan, the holy month when observant Muslims fast from dawn until dusk.
Lines formed outside polling stations around the capital Dakar. Roads were quiet as the nation’s elite police force was deployed across the city in armoured vehicles, checking voters’ cards. Official results are expected in the coming week, but in previous elections candidates have announced their predictions on the same evening as the vote.
Observers said turnout among the more than 7 million registered voters appeared to be high in the morning, although more precise figures would be available later Sunday. Babacar Gueye, who heads Senegal’s civil society network of observers, said participation was important to give the election legitimacy.
“At the opening of polling stations today, I have never in the past 15 years seen so many people going to vote,” he told Associated Press.
In the run-up to Sunday’s election, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was released from prison last week, triggering jubilant celebrations on the streets of Dakar and renewed excitement about the contest.
