Preliminary Results show Macky Sall is Winning Senegalese Presidential Polls

Thu, Feb 28, 2019 | By publisher


Africa

PRESIDENT Macky Sall of Senegal is poised for a strong re-election victory, according to preliminary results announced on Thursday.

The outcome was nearly guaranteed after the leader used his power to make sure he faced little competition on the ballot.

Sall won a second term with 58 percent of the vote, the West African nation’s electoral commission announced five days after votes were cast on Sunday.

In a region with a history marred by civil wars and coups, Senegal continues to stand out for its largely peaceful transitions of power.

Only one major episode of violence related to the vote was reported: the stabbing to death of a pro-government campaigner during a feud between rival camps at an event in a city east of the capital, Dakar, one of several pre-election clashes.

Sall’s platform included taking credit for building roads, a stadium, a conference center, a new museum and an airport — all part of an ambitious infrastructure plan called Emerging Senegal. Much of the construction was financed with help from China. Electricity supply and agricultural production also increased in his first term.

– Feb. 28, 2019 @ 19:25 GMT |

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