Senegal poll results ‘rejected’
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Two leading presidential candidates in Senegal say they do not accept unofficial results that show incumbent Abdoulaye Wade has won Sunday’s polls.
Partial results indicate that Mr Wade, 81, has more than 55% of the vote making a run-off unnecessary, Senegal’s official news agency reports.
But Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Abdoulaye Bathily say there were irregularities.
Analysts say that it will be surprising if there is no second round, given the mood in the country before polling.
A candidate needs to gain more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round.
A commission at the appeals court has until Friday to announce the official results.
Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa.
Observers from regional body the Economic Community Of West African States have said the voting on Sunday was free and fair.
Suspicion
The BBC’s Tidiane Sy in the capital Dakar, says most Senegalese were expecting there to be a second round.
"We will not accept these results," Aissata Tall Sall, Mr Dieng’s spokeswoman, told a press conference.
The Socialist Party leader Mr Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, has been seen as a strong contender.
His party, which was in power for four decades prior to Mr Wade’s victory in 2000, said some people had been allowed to vote more than once.
"These results do not reflect the feelings of the population which, in reality, expressed a massive rejection of Abdoulaye Wade’s authority," AFP news agency quoted leftist leader Mr Bathily as saying.
Voter turnout was high and long queues left some polling stations open late.
Events since Sunday have been somewhat chaotic, with a series of claims and counter-claims about the results.
Mr Wade, who is seeking a second term, has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment.
Since his election he has fallen out with several of his allies, some of whom were among the opponents challenging him on the ballot papers.
Team-up
Mr Wade’s campaign manager has urged the president’s 14 opponents to concede defeat.
Voters queuing in Senegal
Observers say the voting was free and fair
But the other contenders say they will wait until official results are released before commenting, our reporter says.
A run-off would present an opportunity for Mr Wade’s opponents to team up against him.
That is exactly how the president came to power seven years ago in one of Africa’s rare peaceful transitions from one president to a rival.
It is the only West African nation not to have experienced a coup since independence, and polls in 2000 passed off peacefully.
Some five million people were eligible to vote, which is almost double the figure in the last election.
Senegal’s Wade wins re-election -government sources
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
27 Feb 2007 18:53:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
DAKAR, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has won re-election with an unassailable lead according to results from almost all the West African country’s constituencies, government sources said on Tuesday. "With this score, a first round win is secured," said one of the sources, who asked not to be named. With 95 percent of votes counted, Wade had won 56.08 percent of valid votes, the sources told Reuters. Official results from Sunday’s poll were only due by the end of the week.
Senegal’s President Holds Sizable Lead
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By HEIDI VOGT
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 27, 2007; 6:21 PM
DAKAR, Senegal — The president of this West African country appeared to have a strong lead in the election Tuesday, garnering more than half the votes counted.
President Abdoulaye Wade was leading 14 other contenders with 900,900 votes, or 55 percent of valid ballots counted. It was not clear how close officials were to completing the count of 2.3 million ballots cast.
Socialist Party candidate Tanor Dieng was Wade’s nearest competitor in the partial count, with about 16 percent. Idrissa Seck, who once served as Wade’s prime minister, was next with about 12 percent. Seck had been jailed by the government for seven months on embezzlement charges that were never proved.
To avoid a runoff, the top candidate needs to win more than 50 percent of the ballot.
Wade, 80, has presided over an era of peace rare in a tumultuous part of the continent, and the economy is stronger than in many other African nations. He has been embraced by many outsiders as a visionary for his role in setting up an peer-review panel for African economic policies and working to broker peace in neighboring countries.
Still, unemployment stands at about 50 percent and thousands of desperate youths have risked their lives trying to sneak illegally into Europe by sea. Wade also has been criticized neglecting rural areas, and has been unable to end a low-level insurgency in the Casamance region.
Regional observers said Sunday’s vote was largely "free and transparent" in most of the country, though military officials said rebels attacked some soldiers carrying ballot boxes in the still-restive southern region of Casamance Sunday night. One soldier died and two others were hurt, Army officer Boubacar Sane said.
The winner of Senegal’s election will serve five years, as the presidential term has been shortened since Wade’s 2000 victory.
___
Associated Press writer Babacar Sarr Ba contributed to this report from Dakar.
Senegal’s Wade ahead as first results trickle in
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
2007/2/27
By Heidi Vogt DAKAR, Senegal, AP
President Abdoulaye Wade led 14 contenders Monday as elections officials began tallying results from a vote many hoped would cement Senegal’s image as an example of democracy in Africa, despite its poverty.
Sunday’s vote appeared to have proceeded calmly through most of the West African country, though military officials said rebels attacked some soldiers carrying ballot boxes in the still-restive southern region of Casamance Sunday night. One soldier died and two others were hurt, army officer Boubacar Sane said.
Sane said the army believed the attack was instigated by rebels "who were trying to oppose the presidential election." However, he said the attackers were repelled and the ballot boxes stayed in army hands.
The incident occurred about 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the regional capital of Zinguinchor, near the village of Vagarang.
The election is being widely watched as an indicator of how well Senegal’s leader fulfilled promises of streamlined government and economic opportunity in a poor country accused of significant corruption even as it has maintained peace and democratic handovers of power.
Early results reported by the state-run Senegalese Press Agency indicated that Wade was in the lead but did not say by how much.
It was not known how many votes had been counted, but the agency said Wade was well ahead at some of the 12,000 polling stations across the country that had reported results, included the key cities of Dakar and Thies.
Wade, 80, has presided over an era of peace rare in a tumultuous part of the continent, and the economy — though struggling by Western standards — is stronger than in many other African nations.
Still, unemployment stands at about 50 percent and thousands of desperate youth have risked their lives trying to sneak illegally into Europe by sea.
Incumbent leads Senegal polls
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
afrol News, 26 February - The Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, is waiting to be declared the overall winner of the country’s presidential polls, held yesterday. Mr Wade, who has been challenged by 14 other candidates, is expected to have polled close to 60 percent of the votes in one of Africa’s democratic leaders, that is yet to taste coup d’état.
According to provisional results, the voter turn out was more than 70 percent, which was why some polling centres with long queues voted beyond the official closing hours, 18:00.
Mr Wade’s former Prime Minister, Idrissa Seck, is reported to rank second while the leader of the formerly ruling Parti Socialiste (PS), Ousmane Tanor Dieng, followed.
International election observers have already described the conduct of the polls as free, fair and transparent.
Macky Sall, the current Prime Minister and campaign manager of Mr Wade’s Coalition Sopi 2007, quickly convened a news conference at the party’s bureau in Dakar, announcing a first-round victory for their candidate. Mr Sall said going by the partial results, it was clear that Mr Wade swept the polls with 57 percent of the votes. Mr Sall said the results were irrefutable and as such the opposition should start bowing down.
Opposition leaders condemned Mr Sall’s pronouncement, arguing that it would be impossible to avoid a second round polls unless the results were defrauded. They found it hard to believe that the incumbent had polled more than the 50 percent necessary for an outright win.
Besides, officials of Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) warned against any attempts to pre-empt the results. They argued that such an announcement would not help the climate of serenity.
Official provisional results were expected tonight and if no candidate polls 51 percent of the votes, then a second round run-off will take place in mid-March. In that event, Mr Wade’s challenger is given better chances by most observers.
There are fears of post electoral violence, as some opposition leaders have started questioning the relayed results.
Mr Wade’s camp however conceded defeat in few provinces. These include Thiès and Kerr Majabel, where Idrissa Seck and the candidate of Alliance of Progressive Forces (AFP), Moustapha Niasse, had beaten President Wade.
President Wade swept the polls in both Senegal and abroad. He polled over 75 percent of the foreign votes.
The Senegalese President dislodged PS from power in 2000 during the second round of voting. The PS had ruled the country since independence.
Mr Wade, who is seeking a second term, has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment.
After voting in Point E in the capital Dakar, President Wade told journalists that nothing could stop him from sweeping the polls in the first round. "Door dorat," he said in Wollof, meaning "I will win and win again."
But the PS leader argued that Mr Wade was merely bluffing because he was at the brink of losing.
Though his critics accused his regime of its failure to arrest poverty through the creation of jobs, Mr Wade, an economic liberal and legal luminary, argued that he has boosted Senegal’s reputation as a model of democracy, political freedom and stability.
Democracy in Dakar, Episode 2
February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
To view Episode 1, please click here. And don’t forget to get over to CurrentTV and vote this project onto real TV!
Democracy in Dakar, Episode 2
"Freedom of Speech"
In the second installment of this documentary series, several of the main candidates for President in Senegal are introduced against a backdrop of the campaigning on the street and the perspective of hip-hop crews from across Dakar.
The optimism that accompanies most elections is tempered with the reality of the emerging democracy in Senegal, including the suppression of criticism of the government, both through brute intimidation and more subtle means (bribery, lack of airplay, etc).
Episode 2 closes with the song "Yaa Tey" by Xuman, one of the most prominent political rappers from the group Pee Frois.
Senegal’s president ahead in early vote counting
February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The president of Senegal was in the lead yesterday as he sought another five years at the post in a race against 14 contenders, according to partial results reported by the state news agency. President Abdoulaye Wade has presided over an era of peace rare in a tumultuous part of the continent, and the economy – though struggling by Western standards – is stronger than in many African nations.
Senegal election ‘free and fair’
February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 February 2007, 09:57 GMT
Senegal’s presidential election was free and fair, observers from regional body the Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas) have said.
Supporters of the incumbent, Abdoulaye Wade, have been celebrating, claiming he has won Sunday’s poll.
But none of his 14 opponents have conceded and predict a run-off.
A BBC correspondent says it is perhaps a sign of Senegal’s stability that amid contrasting claims there has been no obvious increase in tension.
Senegal’s independent electoral commission said partial official results might not be available until Wednesday.
President Wade needs to gain more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round.
Clear lead
The BBC’s Will Ross in the capital, Dakar, says unofficial results being telephoned in to radio stations from across the country give Mr Wade a clear lead.
Election workers in Senegal count votes by the light of candles
Wade’s opponents may team up against him if there is a run-off
But he says it is too early to know whether he has won outright in a first vote.
The Ecowas statement, while giving the vote the thumbs up, noted that there had been some problems with the process.
However, it also congratulated the Senegalese for their conduct during Sunday’s voting.
Voter turnout was high and long queues left some polling stations open late.
Prime Minister Macky Sall – who is Mr Wade’s campaign manager – said partial results gave the president 57% of the votes counted so far
"I invite all the other candidates to accept the voters’ verdict," he said, AFP news agency reports.
Our correspondent says a run-off would present an opportunity for Mr Wade’s opponents to team up against him.
That is exactly how the 80-year-old president came to power seven years ago in one of Africa’s rare peaceful transitions from one president to a rival.
Mr Wade, who is seeking a second term, has come under pressure in recent months over high rural unemployment.
Since his election he has fallen out with several of his allies, some of whom were among the opponents challenging him on the ballot papers.
Two of them were Moustapha Niasse and the youthful Idrissa Seck, who have both served as prime minister in Mr Wade’s administration.
Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who served under the previous president, Abdou Diouf, was also seen as a strong contender.
Senegal, a predominately Muslim nation, is seen as a rare model of stable democracy in Africa.
It is the only West African nation not to have experienced a coup since independence, and polls in 2000 passed off peacefully.
Some five million people were eligible to vote, which is almost double the figure in the last election.
Senegal’s Wade ahead as first results trickle in
February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
2007/2/27
By Heidi Vogt DAKAR, Senegal, AP
President Abdoulaye Wade led 14 contenders Monday as elections officials began tallying results from a vote many hoped would cement Senegal’s image as an example of democracy in Africa, despite its poverty.
Sunday’s vote appeared to have proceeded calmly through most of the West African country, though military officials said rebels attacked some soldiers carrying ballot boxes in the still-restive southern region of Casamance Sunday night. One soldier died and two others were hurt, army officer Boubacar Sane said.
Sane said the army believed the attack was instigated by rebels "who were trying to oppose the presidential election." However, he said the attackers were repelled and the ballot boxes stayed in army hands.
The incident occurred about 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the regional capital of Zinguinchor, near the village of Vagarang.
The election is being widely watched as an indicator of how well Senegal’s leader fulfilled promises of streamlined government and economic opportunity in a poor country accused of significant corruption even as it has maintained peace and democratic handovers of power.
Early results reported by the state-run Senegalese Press Agency indicated that Wade was in the lead but did not say by how much.
It was not known how many votes had been counted, but the agency said Wade was well ahead at some of the 12,000 polling stations across the country that had reported results, included the key cities of Dakar and Thies.
Wade, 80, has presided over an era of peace rare in a tumultuous part of the continent, and the economy — though struggling by Western standards — is stronger than in many other African nations.
Still, unemployment stands at about 50 percent and thousands of desperate youth have risked their lives trying to sneak illegally into Europe by sea.
Abdoulaye Wade Wins Senegal Election?
February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Octogenarian appears to overshadow younger contestants
Njei Moses Timah (njemotim)
Published 2007-02-27 09:13 (KST)
Even before official pronouncements, members of the Sopi 2007 coalition behind 80-year-old Abdoulaye Wade are already claiming victory in Sunday’s presidential elections in Senegal. The "Pope of Sopi" ("sopi" means change in the Senegalese Wolof language), as some call the elderly Senegalese president, was running against 14 other candidates amongst whom were two of his former prime ministers Idrissa Seck (47) and Moustapha Niarse (68).
According to Senegalese election rules, a candidate needs to win more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a second round of elections. As early as Monday morning, Wade supporters were already announcing that the outcome of votes counted so far indicates that Wade had scored more than 50 percent. Abdoulaye Wade’s campaign manager, P.M. Macky Sall said: "Abdoulaye Wade has largely surpassed the 50 percent required to be declared elected in the first round and the trend is pointing to 57 percent."
For his part the public relations officer for the Wade camp, Cheikh Diallo, echoed the same message, "We have largely won in the first round. These are weighty and unchanging trends."
The opposition did not hesitate however to accuse the presidential camp of trying to "precipitate" victory. Khalifa Tall, campaign director for the Socialist candidate Ousmane Tamor said: "I think that people shall descend on the streets if Wade proclaims himself winner." The president of the Electoral Commission brushed aside hints of electoral irregularities. He said that the election witnessed some "dysfunctional" problems but that their effects were not significant as to affect the outcome of the elections.
Abdoulaye Wade became Senegal’s president in 2000 after spending three decades in opposition and participating unsuccessfully in five previous presidential elections. He is just finishing his first term of seven years and is running for a second term (A 2001 referendum reduced presidential term from seven to five years).
During the campaign, he waived suggestions that his advanced age was a handicap.
About 5 million people registered for Sunday’s election and over 70 percent of those that registered turned out to vote (a record number in Senegal’s history).
Senegal (population 12 million) is located at the extreme flank of West Africa and French is used as the official language. This country, over 85 percent Muslim, is one of the few African countries in which democratic roots run deep. Apart from a separatist movement that has been active in Casamance province since 1982, Senegal is relatively stable when compared to many countries on the African continent. The country has limited resources and about 75 percent of the population is engaged in some form of agricultural activities. Senegal produces peanuts and cotton and a considerable number of people along the coast are fishermen. About half of Senegalese live in urban centers with Dakar, the nation’s capital being home to more than two million people.
Due to high levels of unemployment and underemployment, Senegalese constitute a visible number of Africans that migrate to Europe. Abdoulaye Wade is conscious of this problem and promised during his campaign to create more jobs so as to stem the tide of immigration to foreign lands. If and when the judiciary officially proclaims Wade as the winner of the 2007 pools, it will be clear that Senegalese have "voted for continuity," as one of his aides declared.
