Macky Sall re-elected as Senegal’s President

President of Senegal Macky Sall has won the re-election with 58.27% of votes cast. More than 50% votes to a candidate imply that there would be no second round voting under the election system of Senegal.

Senegal

Senegal lies on the west coast of Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal also borders the Gambia which occupies a narrow sliver of land along the banks of the Gambia River. Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Dakar is Senegal’s economic and political capital.
Senegal was the colony of Portuguese and later the French. Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. Senegal is the Muslim majority country and it has successfully escaped the jihadist attacks which have destabilised neighbours such as Mali.
Senegal has witnessed two peaceful power transfers, in 2000 and 2012, and has never experienced a coup even though election campaigns are typically stained by charges of corruption, disinformation and bouts of violence.
Diplomatic relations between India and Senegal was established at the ambassadorial level with the establishment of a resident Indian mission in Dakar in 1962.
Senegal is often referred to as the biggest Indophile of West Africa since it is greatly influenced by a range of Indian cultural elements ranging from Hindi cinema to the concept of caste and outcaste.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2019