By RFIPalled on 04-02-2019Modified on 04-02-2019 at 18:46

"Senegal, on the roads of the countryside! The first round of the presidential election will be held on February 24 and five candidates will clash in the polls: Macky Sall, Madické Niang, Idrissa Seck, Issa Sall and Ousmane Sonko. Our correspondent Guillaume Thibault and freelance photographer Sylvain Cherkaoui left Dakar on Sunday for a week-long journey across the country to tell the story of this election campaign in the regions. First step, this Monday, in Kaolack.

Kaolack is a crossroads city. The Nioro garage area, with its carts, buses, pedestrians and seven-seater taxis, is a must. A huge market, an anthill, the economic heart of this town crossed by the national 1 which allows to go to Mali. Kaolack is often presented as the capital of salt. We can see in the distance, on the lagoon, these mountains of white gold.

Kaolack, capital also, especially, groundnut , but which has lost its splendor, because the port was, little by little, abandoned. Cheikh Tidiane Gueye is a guardian in a hotel: " The port has been the pride of the city. There was even a train coming in with peanut cars being exported to Europe. And the peanut, there is nothing to throw in it. Shells are used to make electricity. The cakes are used for livestock feed and you can make oil and soap. It's magic. That's why I thank President Sall . "

Country of one of the fathers of independence

Why this support to the Head of State? Because Macky Sall went to Kaolack last week to open barges. Huge boats that will allow to flirt the river to ultimately try to revive the economy. The French settler understood this well enough to build a fort to protect the city.

One of the fathers of independence is born here. Ali Mbaye, a worker, takes us to his grave: " The great Waldiodio Ndiaye is someone who gave independence to Senegal. He did everything, but we forgot it. All that was him. Waldiodio Ndiaye is a great man .

Thirst for justice

In 1958, Waldiodio Ndiaye delivered a very committed speech to General de Gaulle demanding independence. As finance minister, he has been accused along with others, including Mamadou Dia, of trying to destabilize the country. He remained in prison until 1974. So he was a man of justice.

Justice, work, these are the principles expected by young people, like Thierno Moussa, for the presidential election: " If we talk about justice, if you do not have a long arm, someone who is in the state, someone who is a prosecutor, you're screwed. The question we are asking ourselves today is who will help us today? Who will bring change to our country ?

A message to the five presidential candidates who have no choice and will have to go through Kaolack to try to convince the 200,000 registered voters.

    On the same subject

    [Voter Portrait 1/5] Presidential in Senegal: Denntal of Popenguine

    Senegal: Macky Sall and Madické Niang received by Khalif General of the Mourides

    Senegal: kickoff of the presidential campaign

    comments