Dakar, Senegal—

Senegal went to the polls on Sunday to elect its fifth president, a delayed election held against a volatile political backdrop that has sparked violent anti-government protests and increased support for the opposition.

The regime has maintained investor-friendly policies in a soon-to-be oil and gas producer but has failed to ease economic hardship and stoked unrest in one of West Africa’s most coup-prone democracies. A potential end hangs in the balance. .

Nineteen contenders are vying to succeed President Macky Sall. Macky Sall is resigning after being re-elected for inciting violent unrest over the indictment of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and concerns that Sall wanted to extend his term beyond constitutional limits.

This is not the first time in Senegal’s history that the current president is on the ballot. His ruling coalition has chosen 62-year-old former Prime Minister Amadou Ba as its candidate.

“I believe I am a candidate who can bring political stability, calm and the ability to move Senegal forward quickly,” Ba told reporters at the end of the campaign on Friday. “Senegal does not need radical reform.”

Some 7.3 million people are registered to vote, with voting starting at 0800 GMT and ending at 1800 GMT.

Counting will begin immediately after polls close, with provisional results expected to be announced on March 26.

Sonko, who was disqualified from running for defamation, backed former tax inspector Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 43, of the now-defunct Pastef party Co-founder. A number of prominent politicians and opposition candidates have also backed Faye’s candidacy.

Other contenders include former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall (no relation to the outgoing president), entrepreneur-turned-politician Anta Babacar Ngom (the only female candidate) ), and veteran politician Idrissa Szeke, who finished second in the 2019 presidential election.

In the absence of any polls, it’s unclear whether any candidate can get more than 50% of the vote to prevent a runoff.

“Diomaye is Sonko”

Macky Sall, who was first elected in 2012 and whose support has already fallen as he leaves office, has tried unsuccessfully to postpone a vote scheduled for February 25 until December. deterioration.

The move sparked unrest and concerns about authoritarian excess in the country of about 18 million people. It has also emboldened the opposition, which has rejected all attempts to delay the vote that would have extended the president’s term.

Senegal’s Constitutional Council sided with the opposition and ruled that the vote should go ahead and that Sall’s term should not be extended beyond April 2.

Meanwhile, an amnesty law passed this month to ease tensions allowed the release of Sonko and Faye, who had also been detained for nearly a year on charges including defamation and contempt of court.

Both campaigned under the banner of “Diomaye is Sonko” and became a likeable duo.

Sonko, who finished third in the last election in 2019, is particularly popular among urban youth frustrated by a lack of jobs and the high cost of living in a country where 60% of the population is under 25.

“This election will show whether their popularity on social media is real,” Senegalese political analyst Babakar Ndiaye said.

Analysts say most of Sonko’s supporters are now expected to vote for Faye. He promised to root out what he said was deep-rooted corruption, restore stability and prioritize economic sovereignty.

But some of Faye’s campaign promises, such as plans to renegotiate oil contracts and introduce a national currency as Senegal begins offshore oil and gas production, have stoked concerns they could damage the country’s image as an investor destination. .