Amadou Ba - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Senegal’s president-elect Faye vows to govern with humility

SENEGAL opposition presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a political newcomer popular among disaffected youth, promised to govern with humility and transparency. Faye, set to be declared the next president after his main rival called him to concede defeat, thanked President Macky Sall and other candidates for respecting Senegal's democratic tradition by recognising his victory well before the official results. "In electing me, the Senegalese people have decided on a break with a past," Faye told journalists in his first public appearance since the election. "I promise to govern with humility and transparency." Provisional results showed Faye with about 53.7% and…

Mar

2024

By DIADIE BA and BATE FELIX

Opposition candidate Faye takes early lead in Senegal presidential polls

NEWS

EARLY results from Senegal's presidential vote put opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye ahead, sending his supporters to celebrate in the streets, though his main rival from the ruling coalition said a run-off will be needed to determine the winner. At least five of the 19 candidates in the race issued statements as results trickled after the election on Sunday, congratulating Faye. Former prime minister Amadou Ba, the ruling coalition's candidate, said however that celebrations were premature. "For our part, and considering the feedback of the results from our team of experts, we are certain that, in the worst case scenario,…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Who are the main candidates in Senegal’s presidential election?

NEWS

SENEGAL heads to the polls on March 24 to choose a successor to President Macky Sall who is not seeking a third term. For the first time in the West African nation's history, the incumbent is not on the ballot. His hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who was relieved of his duties on Wednesday ahead of the campaigning, is among 19 candidates cleared by Senegal's constitutional council to run. To avoid a runoff, a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote. Campaigning is likely to start in the coming days. Following are the profiles of the main contenders: PRIME MINISTER…

Mar

2024

By DIADIE BA and BATE FELIX

Senegal schedules presidential election for March 24

NEWS

SENEGALESE President Macky Sall has scheduled a delayed presidential election for March 24, the government said after a top court ruled that a proposal to hold the vote after his mandate expires on April 2 was unconstitutional. The announcement caps a dramatic evening that saw Sall dissolve the government and replace Prime Minister Amadou Ba with Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba so that Ba, the ruling coalition's presidential candidate, can focus on his electoral campaign, the presidency said. Earlier the Constitutional Council ruled that a proposal from a national dialogue commission for the vote to be held on June 2 was…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

About 20 migrants die in shipwreck off Senegal’s coast

NEWS

ABOUT 20 migrants died this week when their boat capsized off the coast of northern Senegal, Prime Minister Amadou Ba said. The migrant support service Alarm Phone said on X that the boat had been carrying around 300 people before it capsized on Wednesday near the city of Saint-Louis and that some made it to shore while others were still missing. Thousands of people leave the coast of West Africa every year on a perilous journey to try to reach Europe, and the full number of deaths at sea is unknown. Senegal mourned several deadly incidents last year, including one…