Election continues in the unprecedented and unpredictable presidential election in Senegal.
Some months back, the Senegal constitutional court approved 20 candidates to run for the presidency in the West African Nation.
Whoever wins the seat will succeed the incumbent Mackay Sall who was accused of interference as well as influencing the constitutional court that bars prominent candidates including Usmane Sanko from buying office.
GLOBAL TRACKER take a look at the five (5) leading presidential candidates and possible supporters as well as expected voters.
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AMADOU BA: The candidate of the ruling BBY coalition is running on the slogan “Prosperity Shared”.
Ba, 62, a former economy minister who had also held the position of foreign minister, is a taxation specialist who was appointed prime minister in September. Sall presented Ba as a unifying figure within his party and the coalition and said he would ensure the continuity of economic, social, and environmental policies.
His victory would likely reassure foreign investors at a time when Senegal needs the support of the International Monetary Fund, which approved a $1.9bn loan in June.
Because of his involvement in Sall’s government, he faces public dissatisfaction over what critics say was the rollback of civil liberties after dozens of people were killed and more than 1,000 jailed in the political turmoil of the past three years.
KHALIFA SALL: The 68-year-old, who is unrelated to the outgoing president, served as mayor of Dakar from 2009 to 2018. One of President Sall’s chief political rivals, he was arrested in March 2017 on suspicion of embezzling about $3m in public funds.
In 2018, he was sentenced to five years in jail, preventing him from contesting the February 2019 presidential election.
The former lawmaker and widely popular politician was freed following a presidential pardon later that year.
Sustainable development has been central to Khalifa Sall’s electoral campaign.
He has said he wants to focus on responsible water management and equitable land distribution. More than 70 percent of Senegal’s population lives off agriculture and the livestock sector.
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BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE: While there are no public election polls, Faye is seen as a strong contender to replace Sall. Sonko threw his support behind him after being disqualified over a defamation conviction.
The 44-year-old tax inspector was a key member and secretary general of the party PASTEF, which he helped found together with Sall in 2014.
The party was dissolved by the government in July over allegations that its members had called for an insurrection.
ANTA BABACAR NGOM: Anta a 40-year-old business executive, is a voice for both women and young people — groups hit hard by the country’s economic troubles, widespread unemployment, ent, and rising prices.
She has promised to create millions of jobs and a bank for women to support their economic independence.
MAHAMMED BOUN ABDALLAH DIONNE: Dionne born 22, September 1959 is a Senegalese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Senegal from 2014 to 2019. He was the third prime minister appointed by President Macky Sall.
Dionne served at the Central Bank of West African States, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (ONUDI), and as the advisor of the president, before being appointed as prime minister.
Dionne worked as an engineer specializing in applied economics, worked in a West African bank, and was head of the Economic Office at the Senegalese Embassy in France.
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Meanwhile, three key issues seek to dominate facts and take the attention of voters during the election.
Unemployment: Frustration at the lack of job opportunities has spurred support for Sonko, particularly among the youth, and his backed candidate Faye.
The share of young Senegalese not in employment, education, or training stood at 35 percent in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic further squeezed the job market.
Inflation: In a country where around a third of the population of 17 million live in poverty, the rising cost of living is a major concern.
Russia’s war on Ukraine and the appreciation of the dollar have fuelled additional inflation and undermined support for the current authorities despite subsidies for poor families.
Oil and gas: The launch of oil and gas production later in 2024 has raised questions about whether the natural resource wealth will benefit the wider population and create jobs.
The Sonko-backed opposition coalition has promised to renegotiate energy contracts to maximize revenues, while Amadou Ba is running on the slogan “Prosperity Shared”.
SOURCE: ALJAZEERA AND OTHER NEWS OUTLET