SENEGAL: Tense scenes as Senegal's sitting president votes in a controversial election where he is seeking a third term in office

Record ID: 327696

  • Title: SENEGAL: Tense scenes as Senegal's sitting president votes in a controversial election where he is seeking a third term in office
  • Date: 27th February 2012
  • Summary: DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 26, 2012) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) SENEGAL'S PRESIDENT ABDOULAYE WADE CASTING VOTE JOURNALISTS FILMING WADE PICKING UP BALLOT PAPERS WADE'S SON KARIM WADE WAITING AND WATCHING JOURNALISTS FILMING WADE PICKING UP BALLOT PAPER KARIM WADE WATCHING PEOPLE SHOUTING, IN WOLOF, "WADE GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY," / WOMAN EXPRESSING HER SUPPORT FOR WADE SAYING, IN FRENCH, "WE'RE PROUD OF YOU" CROWD AND JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION WADE LEAVING POLLING STATION POLICE CLEARING THE WAY FOR WADE
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Senegal, Senegal
  • Country: Senegal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HFRRHPA2R6LKPI4LK1DT1KBB
  • Story Text: Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade, who is seeking to extend his 12-year rule in the West African state despite complaints he is violating term limits, was heckled by scores of voters as he cast his ballot on Sunday (February 26).
    The election comes after weeks of violent street protests against the 85-year-old leader's bid for a third term in office and a stream of warnings that Senegal's reputation as an established democracy now hangs in the balance.
    More than a hundred people booed and chanted "Wade go away" in the local Wolof language as the visibly annoyed leader, seen as favourite against a fractured opposition, was ushered out of the polling station by his aides without giving a speech.
    Foreign powers and diplomats issued last minute appeals for calm and a transparent vote, and a top African mediator failed to secure an agreement between Wade, 85, and his rivals over a shortened term for the incumbent if he won.
    Despite facing heavy opposition to his candidacy among Senegal's urban youth, Wade claims strong support particularly in rural areas, and has said he is confident of a win in the election's first round of voting.
    Senegal is the only country in mainland West Africa that has not suffered a coup since independence and previous elections have gone mostly smoothly, a record the former French colony has worn as a badge of democratic distinction.
    But the run-up to Sunday's poll has been tense, with Wade's rivals saying he should not be allowed to stand due to term limits but the incumbent saying restrictions were brought in after he took power, so his first term should not count.
    Senegal's top legal body in late January approved Wade's candidacy, triggering a fresh wave of clashes between rock-throwing protesters and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets in which at least six people have been killed.
    END
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