Vote counting is happening in Senegal after the incumbent, President Macky Sall, sought to delay the election.
Many people hope the election will bring change after many violent anti-government protests. Over seven million Senegalese out of the 17-million population were registered to vote in Sunday’s election, which is fielding a whopping 19 candidates.
The incumbent is not on the ballot. In his stead, his ruling coalition picked former prime minister Amadou Ba as its candidate.
The winning candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off election.
People queued up outside polling stations in Dakar on Sunday. The roads were quiet as the police deployed in armoured vehicles across the city to check voters’ cards.
“Food, water, school; everything is expensive with the low income we have in Senegal,” Alioune Samba told Reuters.
Khodia Ndiayes told the Associated Press, “I’m proud to have voted. We need a new president because life is expensive, the economy is bad, and we need better schools.”
Ba, after casting his vote, enjoined people to be peaceful and added that he wished for the Senegalese people to know their next president soon.
There is a lack of job opportunities in the country, and people are generally frustrated. The cost of living has also risen.
Despite the frustrations over a weak economy, the election has been relatively peaceful. Hundreds of African Union, ECOWAS, and European Union observers were on the ground to monitor its fairness.
