About seven million voters are eligible to elect 165 deputies within the Nationwide Meeting amid a politically tense ambiance within the West African nation.
Violent protests broke out final 12 months after Mr Sall’s fundamental opponent, Ousmane Sonko, was arrested on rape expenses, and greater than a dozen folks have been killed.
Senegal was holding a legislative election on Sunday, a significant check for opposition events who’re making an attempt to minimise the ruling social gathering’s affect earlier than the 2024 presidential election amid fears that President Macky Sall could search a 3rd time period.
Mr Sonko, who got here in third within the 2019 election, denies the allegations and his supporters have been vocal about their opposition to the president.
This 12 months, he and one other of Mr Sall’s main opponents have been disqualified as candidates, which sparked extra widespread anger and protests during which three folks died in June.
Senegal, with a inhabitants of 17 million, is understood for its stability in a area that has seen coups in three nations since 2020 and the place leaders have modified legal guidelines to stay in energy for third phrases.
Sunday’s election will give a clearer indication of what may occur in 2024.
Political analyst Mame Ngor Ngom stated: “For (the ruling social gathering), it’s a query of doing all the things to keep up an absolute majority within the Nationwide Meeting so as to have the ability to govern quietly till 2024 … and guarding the potential for passing sure legal guidelines to organize for all eventualities on the finish of Sall’s second time period.”
Despite the fact that Mr Sonko’s candidacy was rejected by the Constitutional Council, he has organised opposition supporters throughout Senegal. A victory for the opposition “can be synonymous with the rejection of a attainable third candidacy for Sall and a possible victory within the subsequent presidential election”.
Mr Sall’s Benno Bokk Yakaar ruling social gathering at the moment holds 75% of the legislature’s seats.
Serigne Thiam, a political science knowledgeable at Cheikh Anta Diop College in Dakar, stated the opposition is pushing the topic of a attainable third time period over different points.
“If the opposition wins, the president will not be capable of consider a 3rd time period. Then again, if the ruling energy wins the poll, its supporters can push the president in the direction of a 3rd time period,” he warned.
Mr Sall has not talked a couple of third time period however has promised to talk on Monday, the day after the election.
Dissatisfaction with Mr Sall has risen as attainable adversaries — together with the favored former mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, and ex-president Abdoulaye Wade’s son Karim Wade — have been focused by the judiciary and disqualified from operating for workplace. Many accuse Mr Sall of utilizing his energy to remove opponents.
Anger has additionally grown amid financial worries as costs for gas and meals have rocketed because of the warfare in Ukraine.
