Highlights: Senegal: 17 candidates in the running to succeed Macky Sall and become president. 7.3 million voters are finally called to the polls on March 24. Outgoing head of state, in power for 12 years, is not running for re-election. Among the 17 candidates, there is former Prime Minister Amadou Ba. Will the candidate manage to collect the votes of those in favor of continuity? This is one of the unknowns of this election, because the choice of this former minister and tax and property officials is not unanimous.

Senegal: 17 candidates in the running to succeed Macky Sall and become president

7.3 million voters are finally called to the polls on March 24. Macky Sall, the outgoing head of state, in power for 12 years, is not running for re-election. The games are therefore very open, with 19 candidates in the running. Candidates who are in reality only 17 left, since two contenders withdrew from the race in favor of the opponent Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the replacement candidate for the ex-Pastef.

7.3 million voters are finally called to the polls on March 24 to elect the future president of Senegal. AFP - MUHAMADOU BITTAYE

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Dakar,

Léa-Lisa Westerhoff

Among the 17 candidates, there is former Prime Minister Amadou Ba. The dolphin designated by

Macky Sall

to wear the colors of the ruling coalition. Will the candidate manage to collect the votes of those in favor of continuity? This is one of the unknowns of this election, because the choice of this former minister and tax and property officials is not unanimous in the ranks of the APR of President Macky Sall's party.

Three big names have also decided to go it alone and present themselves as dissidents: Boun Abdallah Dione, former prime minister and reputed to be very close to President Macky Sall, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, former Minister of the Interior, just like Mame Boye Diao , mayor of Kolda.

In the ranks of the opposition, we notably include Bassirou Diomaye Faye, released from prison a week before the end of the campaign. The number 2 of the ex-Pastef is the party's plan B after the ousting of their leader, Ousmane Sonko due to his conviction for defamation.

Among the candidates, there are also leading figures in political life, such as Idrissa Seck, former Prime Minister who is participating for the fourth time. Khalifa Sall, the former mayor of Dakar who was several times minister under

Abdou Diouf,

is also participating in this election even though he was unable to run in 2019.

Finally, only one woman is a candidate for this presidential election: 40-year-old business manager Anta Babacar Ngom. She is also among one of the youngest.

Read alsoPresidential election in Senegal: end of an express campaign for the candidates still in the running

Senegal: 17 candidates in the running to succeed Macky Sall and become president

Senegal: 17 candidates in the running to succeed Macky Sall and become president

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