Agenzia Fides REPORT - "The Country is pervaded by a sense of relief" Church sources told Fides from Senegal, where yesterday, March 25, outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade acknowledged his defeat in the second round of presidential elections and welcomed the challenger, Macky Sall. "Wade phoned Macky Sall after he saw that the partial results" say our sources. "There definite results have not been published yet, but Macky Sall’s victory is certain. The admission of defeat by Wade was a demonstration of 'fair play' which was widely appreciated". "The euphoria of the people of Senegal is shared by all African observers who arrived in the Country to follow the ballot. After the case of Côte d'Ivoire and the current one in Mali, Senegal wanted to avoid post-election chaos and this is a sign that is good for the whole of Africa " underline our sources.
"The first problem that the new President will have to face is that of forming a stable government. The electoral coalition between the Socialists and former liberals who supported him cannot last because it was united with the aim of defeating Wade" stress Fides sources. "It is possible that a government was created to lead the Country to the general elections scheduled in June, although it may be postponed to November, to allow the parties to organize the campaign. The current Parliament lacks representativeness because the opposition boycotted the 2007 legislative elections".
Our sources also point out that "Macky Sall is the first President of Senegal born after independence, and hopefully will continue on the path of renewal of the ruling class, both in Wade's party, the Democratic Party, and in the socialist party, whose leaders are still those belonging to the Senghor period. A signal in this sense could come from the appointment of the Prime Minister by the new Head of State ".
Among the issues that the new President will have to face is that of the Casamance region of Senegal wedged between Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry, where since 1982 an armed separatist movement has been active. "Macky Sall has become aware that Casamance is a key issue. It seems that his first trip abroad will be in Gambia," Fides sources said.
An important fact has emerged from these elections: the people of Casamance have participated en masse to vote, claiming their role as citizens of Senegal. "It is a clear sign given to the rebels since the majority of the inhabitants of the region consider anachronistic to fight with weapons for something that must be resolved with democratic means", conclude the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2012)
"The first problem that the new President will have to face is that of forming a stable government. The electoral coalition between the Socialists and former liberals who supported him cannot last because it was united with the aim of defeating Wade" stress Fides sources. "It is possible that a government was created to lead the Country to the general elections scheduled in June, although it may be postponed to November, to allow the parties to organize the campaign. The current Parliament lacks representativeness because the opposition boycotted the 2007 legislative elections".
Our sources also point out that "Macky Sall is the first President of Senegal born after independence, and hopefully will continue on the path of renewal of the ruling class, both in Wade's party, the Democratic Party, and in the socialist party, whose leaders are still those belonging to the Senghor period. A signal in this sense could come from the appointment of the Prime Minister by the new Head of State ".
Among the issues that the new President will have to face is that of the Casamance region of Senegal wedged between Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry, where since 1982 an armed separatist movement has been active. "Macky Sall has become aware that Casamance is a key issue. It seems that his first trip abroad will be in Gambia," Fides sources said.
An important fact has emerged from these elections: the people of Casamance have participated en masse to vote, claiming their role as citizens of Senegal. "It is a clear sign given to the rebels since the majority of the inhabitants of the region consider anachronistic to fight with weapons for something that must be resolved with democratic means", conclude the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2012)
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