Senegal's president in sweeping election win

Macky Sall won a second term as the president of Senegal in the first round of voting, election officials announced on Thursday.

Sall, the incumbent president, received 58 percent of the votes cast on Sunday while Idrissa Seck, the opposition candidate and the former prime minister, received 21 percent. Ousmane Sonko, the third candidate, received 16 percent.

The opposition candidates rejected Sall's outright victory. They, however, said they won't challenge the results. Election observers reported finding no major irregularities during the presidential vote.

Senegal's electoral procedures consist of an initial ballot. If a single candidate fails to garner more than 50 percent of the votes cast, a second round takes place, between the candidates with the two largest proportions of the vote.

Cavince Adhere, an analyst in Nairobi, Kenya, said the decision by the opposition not to challenge the election results is a good indication that the national interest has prevailed.

"As a sign of good faith, President Sall should ride on the wave of resulting legitimacy and bring all Senegalese together in a new spirit of developing the country," Adhere said.

"Elections should not degenerate into lawlessness including violence. Senegal is setting a good example that should be emulated by other African countries," he said.

Strong economic growth

Sall sought re-election on the basis of strong economic growth in his first term. Since his election as president in 2012, Senegal's economic growth rate has grown to more than 6 percent, one of Africa's fastest.

The national overall electricity access rate is 64 percent, one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, according to Sustainable Energy For All.

Senegal has long been known for its peaceful transfers of power in West Africa, a region with a history of leaders clinging to power and new governments taking power through coups.

In addition to enjoying strong economic growth, the Muslim-majority country has largely escaped the jihadist attacks that have destabilized neighboring countries such as Mali.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who was also confirmed the winner of his country's 2019 presidential election on Wednesday, congratulated Sall for winning a second term.

"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," Buhari said.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/02/2019 page8)