By RFIPalled on 02-21-2019Today on 21-02-2019 at 22:23

In Senegal, the first round of the presidential election will be held Sunday, February 24. For the five candidates (Macky Sall, Ousmane Sonko, Idrissa Seck, Issa Sall and Madicke Niang), the final stretch is launched. Every day, RFI has decided to follow one of the contenders for the presidency. This Thursday, February 21, Ousmane Sonko was campaigning in Pikine, north of Dakar.

The strength of youth. It is no coincidence that Ousmane Sonko chose Pikine for his last big meeting. Touch those who galley, looking for work, those who come from all over the country and often land in this great suburb, a breeding ground of essential voters for all candidates.

" I vote Sonko because Ousmane is a man of truth, he gave his life for Senegal, " says an activist ready to pay 3,000 CFA francs (about 4.5 euros) for a t-shirt at the effigy of his candidate.

The sound spits out one of the titles of the campaign: "Jotna" ("Now"), repeats in a loop the crowd. Students, unemployed, shopkeepers who have gathered in the Alassane Djigo stadium are also singing songs from Casamance. Ousmane Sonko grew up in the region and many Casamans from Dakar met for this meeting.

A meeting where the difference is heard. The candidate assumes during this campaign his will to develop his country differently, to fight against the bad governance, to separate the powers, to provoke a rupture with the West leaving in particular of the CFA franc if he becomes president.

" With his ideas, his pan-African speech, he carries with him the legacy of Thomas Sankara ", dares a student, certain that Ousmane Sonko will be in the second round and who concludes " It is him the future, it is an obviousness ".

Crowd for candidate Ousmane Sonko at Alassane Djigo stadium. © RFI / Guillaume Thibault

► Presidential elections in Senegal: Madické Niang in meeting at Joal (1/5)

► Presidential in Senegal: Issa Sall campaigning in Touba region (2/5)

► Presidential in Senegal: Idrissa Seck in campaign in Touba (3/5)

► Presidential election in Senegal: Macky Sall campaigning in Guédiawaye (4/5)

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