Senegal will finally go to the polls this weekend, in a vote that was delayed, then reinstated. A beacon of relative stability in a restless region, its democratic resilience has been sorely tested.
Supporters celebrate the release of Senegal's top opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and his key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye outside Sonko's home in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Senegal has enjoyed a peaceful transfer of power in every election since independence in 1960 from former colonial ruler France. But the president's announcement on state TV last month sparked protests and a constitutional crisis. Within two weeks, his decree was reversed by the country's constitutional court and the election date was rescheduled for March 24.
Amadou Ba, who was prime minister until early this month, is the frontrunner in the race. The 62-year-old was endorsed by President Sall and has the weight of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar party. He has promised to build on Sall's achievements in office. The other notable presidential candidate is Anta Babacar Ngom. She is the only woman on the ballot and the first woman to run for office in more than a decade. She is unlikely to gain significant votes, but her presence is a nod to Senegal's women's movement, which has pushed for gender parity in politics.Carts ride past electoral posters in Dhara on March 21, 2024, as eighteen men and one woman are in the running on March 24 to become Senegal's fifth president.
Only weeks ago, Sene's neighborhood was the center of anti-government protests. Hundreds of people set up roadblocks to slow down police cars and chanted"Macky Sall is a dictator." They were met by dozens of police who arrested many and used tear gas to disperse crowds.
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