Millions vote in 2024 Senegal presidential election

The 2024 Senegal presidential election is underway, and it is a make-or-break for the country. However, the election, which started with peace, has degenerated into violence in some parts of the country. People have described the election as a chance to permanently liberate Senegal.

Over seven million voters are exercising their voting rights in the West African country on Sunday, March 24th March to elect a new president to succeed President Macky Sall. He has been in power for 12 years.

A video posted on Twitter and sighted by GlobalCurrent24 shows police throwing tear gas to disperse voters who are being denied their rights to vote.

https://twitter.com/NestaWane/status/1771947245773943013

Nationals both home and abroad are voting in the highly contested election. In France, for instance, video footage shows long, winding queues as the Senegalese community in Paris has come out in full force to vote today. Thousands have joined the queues to vote for a new president.

https://twitter.com/NestaWane/status/1771936905212441040

A total of 17 presidential aspirants are contesting the election after efforts by President Macky Sall’s attempt to delay polls were foiled.

Information coming in is that the police in Keur Massar have continuously used force on the population. The use of tear gas at locations where voters have crowded to cast their votes has made it impossible for many who came out to vote. Other delays have been associated with voting administrative lapses.

Huge crowds of people are still trying to vote in Keur Massar voting centres after voting was stopped.

https://twitter.com/NestaWane/status/1771934434368893228

https://twitter.com/NestaWane/status/1771947245773943013

Who becomes the next president of Senegal?

Before the election, no public poll had been held; however, Faye looks the most favourable out of the 17 aspirants and may replace President Sall. Faye has been seen as the favourite since Sonko’s supporters are expected to vote for him.

Most of Sonko’s supporters are expected to vote for Faye, making the latter a serious threat to the other 16 presidential hopefuls. Sonko is popular among urban youth who are frustrated with a lack of jobs and economic hardship in the country. A change that will reflect positively in their lives is all the youth are voting for, hence the massive turnout on election day. Senegal, just like other African countries, has a young and growing population, with 60 percent of the population younger than 25 years old.

Per an internal government survey conducted, just 60% of electorates who voted for Sall in the last election are ready to vote for BBY’s candidate this time. Previous top government officials, including former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, have thrown their support behind Faye.

International election observers in Senegal have described the turnout of voters as very high; however, no definitive percentage has yet been attached to the huge numbers in long, winding queues voting for the change Senegal is yearning for.

Mr. Babacar Gueye, head of Senegal’s COSCE civil society network of observers, said the turnout has never been observed in Senegal in the last 15 years and that the huge turnout will surely give the election the needed legitimacy.

While speaking to The Associated Press, Mr. Babacar Gueye said, “At the opening of polling stations today, I have never in the past 15 years seen so many people going to vote.”

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In the 2019 elections, voter turnout was 66%. People view this year’s election as a transformative one, anticipating a higher voter turnout. Three of the candidates contesting for the presidency are current or former tax inspectors.