Presidential election in Senegal: candidate Habib Sy withdraws in favor of Bassirou Diomaye Faye
After the withdrawal of Cheikh Tidiane Dieye in favor of Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday, the candidate of Pastef, the dissolved opposition party, it is the turn of candidate Habib Sy and former minister to do the same. The number of candidates therefore goes from 18 to 17.
Ousmane Sonko (right) and Diomaye Bassirou Diomaye Faye (left), at a press conference in Dakar on March 15, 2024. AFP - JOHN WESSELS
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
“
I am withdrawing my candidacy in favor of Bassirou Diomaye Faye
,” declared Habib Sy alongside the Pastef candidate during the passage of his caravan, in the commune of Linguere, 300 km north of Dakar, this afternoon.
The man who has served several times as minister and chief of staff to Abdullaye Wade justifies this decision by a concern for clarity for voters and to avoid a dispersion of opposition votes in the first round of
Sunday's presidential election
.
Habib Sy was able to be a candidate thanks to the sponsorships of deputies from Pastef, the dissolved party in whose name Bassirou Diomaye Faye is a presidential candidate today. Possible backup candidate in the event that Bassirou Diomaye Faye was prevented, today "
in this last turn before the presidential election
" says Habib Sy, "
it was logical
" that he withdraw.
Things are less clear on the side of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), whose candidate Karim Wade was disqualified from the presidential race.
The much-courted PDS
has not yet decided whether it supports a candidate or not.
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