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<\/figure>\n\n\nEarly in the morning, lines developed outside polling places, and Dakar’s main thoroughfare was mostly empty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The country’s top police force was dispersed throughout the coty in armoured vehicles and checked voter’s card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was released from prison last week,sparking joyous celebrations in Dakar’s streets and a resurgence of interest in the election ahead of Sunday,s vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to a previous defamation conviction,Sonko was disqualified from running for the presidential seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is supporting his important ally,Bassirou Diomaye Faye,who was also released from prison last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khodia Ndiayes a 52 year-old cook said that she voted for Faye because she wanted Sonko to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud to have voted,\u201d she told The Associated Press. “We need a new president because life is expensive, the economy is bad and we need better schools.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many Senegalese voters are most concerned about the state of the economy,which has been negatively impacted by high food and energy cost that are partially related to the conflict in Ukraine <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to independent researcher Afrobarometer,about a third of Senegalese youths are unemployed,forcing thousands of people to risk their lives to travel to the west in search of jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senegalese citizens gathered on Sunday morning to cast ballots in a fiercely contested presidential contest that came after months of turmoil and uncertainty that put the country’s standing as a stable democracy in a region that has seen a spate of coups in recent years to the test. Following violent protests, President Macky Sall attempted…<\/p>\n