Statement on President Abdoulaye Wade’s Re-Election in Senegal
March 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The United States congratulates President Abdoulaye Wade on his
re-election victory in Senegal’s elections last month. We further
commend the people of the Republic of Senegal for their unprecedented
high voter turnout. Their involvement is a testament to Senegal’s
commitment to a healthy democratic system. The United States stands
with the Senegalese people on this occasion and will continue to support
their efforts to build a safe and prosperous democracy.
Democracy in Dakar, Episode 4: Wade wins
March 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Democracy in Dakar, Episode 4 – "Wade Wins". This episode shows the calm after the storm. A very eerie calm indeed as all of Dakar seems stunned by the election results, where Wade has seemed to have won 56% of the vote. This episode shows the calm on the streets and some incisive interviews with journalists and artists.
Gaston bring their appropriate and haunting track "Wallo" to this episode, as well as participate in a deep interview.
Also featured are interviews with Keyti, Rose Skelton, Serigne Ndiaye, Pape Guey and Matador.
Senegal election authority declares Wade official winner of presidency
March 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment
DAKAR, Senegal:
Senegal’s electoral authorities on Sunday confirmed President Abdoulaye
Wade as the winner of last month’s election, rejecting charges of
cheating and officially giving the octogenarian president five more
years at the helm of the West African nation.
Wade won with about 1.9 million votes, or 56 percent of valid
ballots, compared with 15 percent for runner-up Idrissa Seck, declared
Senegal’s constitutional council — the final authority on elections.
The winning candidate needed more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid
a runoff.
The council also rejected claims by two of the 14 opposition
candidates that irregularities in the voting process should invalidate
the results. Marxist candidate Abdoulaye Bathily, who finished sixth
with 2 percent of the vote, had said some ballots were not properly
signed by election officials and that voting continued for five hours
after the polls officially closed on the night of Feb. 25.
Ousmane Tanor Dieng, who finished third with about 14 percent of the
total, had also asked for annulment of the vote, though his campaign
did not release his specific complaints.
The petitions by the candidates were "without foundation," said
chief clerk Ndeye Maguette Mbengue. He did not provide further details.
