2012 Senegalese presidential election
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 Senegal portal |
A presidential election took place in Senegal on 26 February 2012.[1][2]
Background
The 26 February 2012 date for the election was decreed by President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade on 23 November 2010. President Wade indicated that he would stand for his third term, set at seven years by the constitution.[3][4] While the 2001 constitution limits a President to two terms, Wade argued that his 2000 election to his first seven year term falls under the previous constitution, which did not provide for term limits.[5]
In June 2011, after violent protests, Wade dropped plans for two constitutional changes: lowering the percentage of votes required for a first-round victory from 50% to 25% and creating the position of vice-president, also to be elected. Critics feared that Wade would use this to ensure his re-election against a split opposition, and to make his son vice-president.[6]
Bruno d'Erneville, Amsatou Sow Sidibé, musician Youssou N'Dour,[7] and former foreign minister Ibrahim Fall announced they would run in the election.[8] However, Youssou N'Dour was subsequently disqualified over the number of signatures he had collected.
Constitutional Court term limit ruling
On 27 January 2012, the Constitutional Court of Senegal ruled that Wade was allowed to run for a third term – according to the ruling, his first term did not count under the new constitution. Also, N'Dour was disqualified from the election. In total, 14 candidates were approved (including former Prime Ministers Idrissa Seck, Macky Sall and Moustapha Niasse as well as opposition leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng). [citation needed]
Protests
Protests erupted the following day. Buildings burned across the capital Dakar. Police fired tear gas at youth protesters who questioned the ruling. Wade made a television appearance in which he called the protests "displays of petulance" and promised an "open" electoral campaign with "no restrictions on freedom." Protesters said that they would turn the Place de l'Obelisque in central Dakar into the country's version of Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian revolution which led to the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.[9]
Head of the Party of Independence and Labour and member of the M23 opposition activist group Amath Dansokho told reporters, "Abdoulaye Wade has declared war on the people". Truckloads of police in full riot gear and armed with tear gas grenade launchers and truncheons surrounded the presidential palace used by Wade. Leading human rights activist Alioune Tine was detained.[10]
The protests continued into February. Riot police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets in Dakar on 19 February 2012, one week before the election.[11]
Candidates
| Candidates[12] | Party | results in 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Ousmane Tanor Dieng | Socialist Party of Senegal | Ousmane Tanor Dieng (PS) 13,56 % |
| Moustapha Niasse | United to Boost Senegal Alliance of the Forces of Progress |
Moustapha Niasse (AFP) 5,93 % |
| Macky Sall | Alliance for the Republic - Yakaar | supported Abdoulaye Wade |
| Idrissa Seck | fr:Rewmi | Idrissa Seck (fr:Rewmi) 14,92 % |
| Abdoulaye Wade | Senegalese Democratic Party | Abdoulaye Wade (PDS) 55,90 % |
| Mor Dieng | fr:YAAKAAR, le Parti de l’Espoir | |
| Cheikh Tidiane Gadio | Citizen Political Movement | supported Abdoulaye Wade |
| Cheikh Bamba Dièye | fr:Front pour le socialisme et la démocratie/Benno Jubël | Cheikh Bamba Dièye (FSD/BJ) 0,50 % |
| Doudou Ndoye | Union for the Republic | Doudou Ndoye (UPR) 0,29 % |
| Djibril Ngom | Independent | |
| Ibrahima Fall | Independent | |
| Diouma Dieng Diakhaté | fr:Parti Initiative démocratique jogal | |
| Oumar Khassimou Dia | fr:Parti humaniste Naxx Jarinu | |
| Amsatou Sow Sidibé | fr:CAR Lennen |
Results
According to preliminary reports, Wade and Sall both had about 20 to 35% of the vote, with all other candidates gaining fewer votes, requiring a run-off between the two.[13]
References
- ^ "CANDIDATURE A LA PRESIDENTIELLE DE 2012 DU SENEGAL: Ibrahima Fall déroule sa feuille de route". Denise ZAROUR MEDANG, Sud Quotidien 10 June 2011.
- ^ "IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Senegal".
- ^ Drew Hinshaw. "Senegal Sets Next Presidential Election for Feb. 26, 2012". Bloomberg Business Week, 23 November 2010.
- ^ "Senegal's President Says He'll Run in 2012". Voice of America. 17 November 2009.
- ^ Diadie Ba. "Senegalese leader in row over 2012 re-election bid". Reuters, 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Senegal: Abdoulaye Wade drops poll plans after riots", BBC News, 23 June 2011.
- ^ "Youssou N'Dour announces Senegal presidential bid". BBC News. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/7419858.html
- ^ "Senegal clashes erupt as court clears Wade poll bid". BBC News. 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Senegal opposition urges more "resistance" after riots". Reuters. 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Senegal protesters clash with police a week before vote". africasia. 19 February 2012.
- ^ « L’intégralité de l’arrêt du Conseil constitutionnel du 27 janvier 2012 » : Publication de la liste des candidats à l’élection du président de la République du 26 février 2012, Rewmi
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17176798
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