Senegal’s presidential candidates concluded their final rallies on Friday, marking the end of a hurried campaign ahead of an unprecedented election following weeks of political turmoil.
With seven million eligible voters, the West African nation, soon to be an oil producer, faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with over a third of its population living in poverty and half aged under 20.
Despite the last-minute withdrawals of two candidates, 17 contenders remain in the presidential race, with campaigning officially ending at midnight on Friday.
The winning candidate will be tasked with leading the nation out of years of tension and managing revenues from recently discovered oil and gas reserves.
President Macky Sall, who has been in power since 2012, is not seeking reelection, marking the first time in Senegalese history that the incumbent is absent from the ballot.
The frontrunners in the race are two former tax inspectors: Amadou Ba, 62, representing the governing coalition, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 43, an anti-establishment figure who gained popularity despite being released from prison only last week.
Notably, disqualified candidate Karim Wade has endorsed Faye, potentially impacting the outcome of the election.
As supporters gathered for the final rallies of the leading candidates, anticipation grew regarding the potential for a third-place candidate to influence the results.
Khalifa Sall, the former mayor of Dakar, is considered a contender for this position in the first round of voting.
With no date set for a potential second-round vote, international partners are closely monitoring the election in Senegal, a country known for its stability in a region plagued by political instability.
Senegal’s upcoming election has garnered attention not only for its domestic implications but also for its potential impact on foreign interests, particularly in the context of offshore oil and gas production scheduled to begin later this year.
The outcome of the election will shape Senegal’s future trajectory, with competing visions for economic development and social stability at stake.
As provisional results are expected as early as Sunday night, the nation waits with anticipation to see who will emerge as its next leader.
