Barely two months into the year and Africa is already preparing for two major presidential elections. The first, coming up on the 16th of February, will be the hotly contested Nigerian presidential election scheduled for the 16th of February, followed by the pertinent presidential election in Senegal on the 24th.
With 6.7 million registered voters out of Senegal’s estimated 15 million residents, the country is set to witness an election that could potentially bring an end to incumbent President Macky Sall’s tenure.
Ahead of the February polls, over 27 potential candidates indicated their interest to run, including President Sall who hopes to secure another term. However, several cuts by the country’s Constitutional Court first reduced the list to 7 candidates, then 5 candidates.
The seven-man court presented the new list, which excluded major contenders, Karim Wade and Khalifa Salls, due to their criminal history.
Here are the four candidates running for presidency in Senegal, against President Macky Sall:
Idrissa Seck
Running under the Rewmi Party, former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck has had a long career in politics which began at the age of 14, when he joined the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS).
As Minister of Trade, Crafts and Industrialization, the Princeton University graduate served from 1995 to 1998 under former President Abdoulaye Wade, before becoming the deputy party leader of the PDS.
The former mayor of Thiès also ran for president under the Rewmi Party in 2007 against Wade who, following their fallout, accused Seck of corruption. Following the announcement of Wade as the winner, Seck exhibited exemplary sportsmanship by congratulating his opposition, one of the only candidates to that.
Ousmane Sonko
Born in 1974, Sonko is the official flag bearer of the political party, PASTEF– Les Patriotes also known as “Patriots of Senegal for Ethics, Work and Fraternity,” a party which was established in January 2014 where he also functions as the deputy leader.
Sonko began his career in tax, serving as the Chief Inspector of Taxes and Domains, a tax auditor and also as the Head of the Tax Audit Bridges in charge of the real estate sector.
Popularly lauded for his integrity, Sonko’s knowledge of policies and ideas for a moral political structure won him the respect of the international community.
Issa Sall
Also up against incumbent Macky Sall is the coordinator of the Party of Unity and Rally (PUR), Issa Sall, who made a breakthrough in the 2017 general elections, by coming in fourth with more than 155,000 votes.
Born in 1956, Sall started out in the Weather Senegal IT department before moving to the African Regional Centre for Technology (CRAT).
Probably the least known candidate partly due to lack of public office experience, Sall is also a member of the Dahira Moustarchidine Wal Moustarchidaty translated as “circle of men and women looking for the right path,” an association noted for their good words derived from the Tidiane brotherhood.
Madicke Niang
Flying the flag for former President Abdoulaye Wade’s Senegal Democratic Party (PDS) is 66-year-old lawyer, Madicke Niang.
Once the Sengalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Niang has grown a reputation for being one of the most formidable names in politics. Wielding connections to some of the most influential and prominent members of the country, an asset he tended to and grew while serving as Minister, Niang is definitely one to watch in this year’s election.
Niang has also raised concerns about President Macky Salls, and his alleged plan to remain in power by any means possible.
