Image Text:

RE-ELECTED: Macky Sall

MACKY SALL has won a second term as president of Senegal.

Sall has been chosen to serve another five years in the role after the country’s elections on Sunday.

According to figures released by the National Vote Counting Commission, Sall won with 58 per cent of the vote.

Opposition politicians have rejected the result of the election but have said they will not contest it, the BBC reported.

Sall’s critics have argued he used his position as president to block challengers from participating in the election.

Two prominent opposition candidates were prohibited from running in the election because of corruption convictions.

Speaking after the election, former prime minister Idrissa Seck, the election’s first runner up with 21 per cent of the vote, said: "It is clear that the incumbent candidate has confiscated the will of the Senegalese people and will be alone to face the consequences before the people and before history."

A total of five candidates were listed on this year’s ballot paper, a significant decrease from the 12 who ran in the country’s last election.

Among those who have congratulated Sall on his re-election is Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria.

Buhari, who was recently re-elected to serve a second four-year term, said: “I congratulate President Macky Sall on his re-election for a second term. There is no doubt at all that democracy has come to stay, in West Africa. I wish the people of Senegal peace, stability and progress, and look forward to continuing cooperation with President Sall.”

Hage G Geingob, president of the Republic of Namibia, said: “Congratulations to my Dear Brother Macky Sall for a resounding victory in the presidential election. Let us continue to work harder for inclusive development, friendship between our people, and the renewal of our continent in the spirit of the Africa we want.”

Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.