Senegal: Tense election build-up ends calmly

DAKAR, 23 March 2009 (IRIN) - Despite campaign skirmishes leading up to the 22 March local election and a foreign military contingent on alert in case of poll violence, local elections in Senegal took place under widespread calm on 22 March, according to the country's national electoral commission.

"We had problems organising the vote, including lack of ballots and delayed poll openings," the commission's communications officer Mamadou Amat told IRIN, "But overall, the vote went well and the people's voice was expressed."

This election marked the formal entry of President Abdoulaye Wade's son and current advisor, Karim Wade, into electoral politics.

The local election, which elects 20,000 people to serve in rural, municipal and regional posts, attracted higher-than-usual participation. On the evening of polls, the Ministry of Interior estimated half of the country's registered voters, or about 2,500,000 people - cast ballots.

Voter Aminata Diallo told IRIN she wanted to make her voice heard. "Life has become so expensive here. Those in power are drowning us." The average price for a 50kg bag of rice has increased to more than US$40, almost twice its cost two years ago.

A November 2008 UN study conducted in Senegal concluded that the increase in rice prices had pushed more people into food insecurity. Overall, the study estimated almost 200,000 families had precarious access to food. Households are "preparing smaller quantities of food per meal," according to the study.

Voter Diallo said in addition, medical care has become unaffordable for more families, and school strikes widespread and disruptive. Both professors and students have gone on strike in the capital in Dakar over pay and classroom conditions. "This election should send a strong signal," she said on voting day.

The opposition coalition, Benno Siggil Senegal (Unite for a Strong Senegal), is challenging the ruling Sopi (Change) coalition, which holds a majority of seats in both government branches.

Opposition candidate Khalifa Ababacar Sall told IRIN the polls showed voter fatigue with the ruling party. "They are tired of politics that are not taking care of them."

But the government's spokesperson, Amadou Sall, told IRIN the government is being blamed for forces outside its control. "We are victims of an international financial crisis as all countries are. People are punishing the government in power."

The World Bank has projected that remittances sent to developing countries will decline throughout 2009, while the UN International Labour Organization has estimated that up to 50 million more people worldwide may fall into unemployment as a result of the global economic slowdown.

While the World Bank has estimated Senegal's remittances at US$1 billion every year ?8.5 percent of GDP in 2007 ? the UN has calculated the actual amount may be twice as high.

Senegal's electoral commission has said that election results will be published by midnight, 27 March.

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