2024counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)3month24Presidential elections were held in Senegal on April 1. The results showed that Diomaye Faye, from the governing opposition camp, won thevictoryand about12The president was to be replaced for the first time in two years. However, this transition of power was by no means smooth, and the situation in Senegal swung sharply over the presidential election. The cause was the election of the former president, Macky Sall.postponementand leading figures in the opposition.arrestIn In West Africa, where the political situation is unstable and democracy is relativelystabilitySenegal has been considered to be a democratic country. However, its democracy was put in jeopardy in the recent presidential election. The following is an exploration of the political situation in Senegal to date, the presidential election, and democracy in Senegal, and why Senegal is in turmoil.

Usman Sonko's campaign poster(Photo:Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED])

History of Senegal 

Senegal is located in West Africa, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It borders Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, and is surrounded by The Gambia. In the region where Senegal is located today15By the 19th century, many kingdoms and other various political forms emerged. especially around present-day Senegal.8~9During the period of the Kingdom of Tekrur, which flourished through the 19th century, Islam spread through trade with the Berbers of North Africa. Even today, the entire population of95% are Muslims. 

15Since the so-called "Age of Discovery" that began around the 19th century, present-day Senegal and its vicinity have been geographically regarded by Western countries as the gateway to West Africa. The Western countries were17Around the 19th century, they began to expand into the region in earnest, building fortresses and other strongholds. In particular, the Atlantic Triangular Trade (*1), which supplied slaves from West Africa to the Americas, focused on the island of Gorée, located off the coast of the current capital, Dakar, as a base. After the rule of Dutch merchants, Gorée Island was taken over by France, which was based in Saint-Louis in the northern part of present-day Senegal,1815It was declared a French colony at the Congress of Vienna in 1949.1848France, which banned the slave trade in 1949, now has commodity crops such as peanuts in Senegal.cultivationThe government of the Philippines was forced to He also promoted colonial policies such as building railroads to transport peanuts.1885The Berlin Conference of 1949 resulted in the partition of the African continent, creating French West Africa (present-day Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Benin). The Governor-General of French West Africa was established in Saint-Louis.

At the same time, under the French Third Republic, the four regions of Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée, and Rufix were granted autonomy.giftIn 1915, Blaise Jeanne, a native of Gorée, became the first black member of the French parliament.be (an affirmation)and insisted on racial equality. However, this relationship ended up being used to recruit soldiers for the French army. As a result, Senegalese were mobilized as French soldiers in many wars, including two world wars.

The building where slaves were imprisoned on Goree Island (Photo:Ryan Kendrick Smith / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED])

Senegal after independence

The current Senegal,1959In 1949, it merged with French Sudan (now Mali) to form the Commonwealth of Mali,1960counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)4month4Based on an agreement signed by the Commonwealth of Mali and France on the day of Senegal's independence, the same year.6month20independence from France on the same day. And the same year8month20On April 1, the Republic of Senegal seceded from the Union of Mali and officially became independent.declarationThe country has not, however, achieved complete independence from France. However, it has not gained complete independence from France in fact, and has made many agreements with France in the areas of military and defense, economy, and culture.tieFrench influence remained significant after independence, including Specifically, the establishment of French military bases within Senegal, emphasis on diplomatic relations with former French territories, and a rate fixed by the franc (now the euro).CFAA policy of education and language was adopted that included the use of francs and French as the official language.

Since independence, Senegal has managed to remain relatively stable and democratic in an unstable West African country. There has been no coup d'état seizure of power, and although problems have been pointed out, there continues to be a change of government through elections. In addition, the degree of individual political freedom and press freedom is relatively high. Thus, in West Africa,Models of DemocracyThe "M" in "M" is the word used to refer to a number of different types of products, including

Although there was a sense of stability at the level of the central government, some areas were unstable. That is the Casamance region in southern Senegal. The Casamance region is Senegal's mostfertile landThe Casamance region is considered to be the most important region in Senegal. Many Casamance residents say that the Casamance region and the northern part of the country, including the capital Dakar, are not considered important by the Senegalese government and are isolated, even though the Gambia is between the region and the capital, Dakar.I feel it.Another aspect is that the ethnic and religious composition of the Casamance region differs from other Senegalese regions. In this context.1982In 2006, an armed group was established, leading to armed conflict. Independence groups in the Casamance region and the Senegalese government have frequently clashed. The movement for independence in Casamance is30It has been going on for years, and the stability of this casamance is one of the key points for strengthening democracy.It's been said.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Four Presidents and Presidential Elections

The first president of independent Senegal was the Senegalese Socialist Party ((PSS)He was Mr. Léopold Sédar Saint-Gaulle of the Mr. Saint-Gaulle promoted the modernization of agriculture. He also developed pro-French policies. He established a presence in French-speaking countries by calling for the creation of a community of French-speaking countries. At independence, Senegal had a prime minister position that shared military authority. However, Mamadou Jha, who became prime minister after independencecoup attemptand was sentenced to life in prison.

Mr. Sangor is a member of the1980He stepped down as president at the end of the year before the end of his term. The new president will be1970He was replaced by Abdou Diouf, who had served as prime minister under Mr. Saint-Gaulle since 1949. Like Mr. Sangor, Mr. Diouf also maintained friendly relations with France and served as Secretary General of the Community of French-Speaking Countries.

Opposing President Diouf was Abdoulaye Wadh, the main opposition leader since independence.1988Diouf won the presidential election in 2006, but the Senegalese Democratic Party led by Wad (PDS) alleged electoral fraud and held demonstrations in Dakar.confusionThere was a The Senegalese government, led by Diouf, declared a state of emergency in Dakar and arrested Wad.1993years and ...2000Presidential elections were also held in 2006, but observers from international organizations and regional communities were sent to ensure that fair elections were held amidst the chaos. Results.1993Although Diouf was re-elected in the 2006 election,2000President Diouf lost the presidential election in 2006, and Mr. Wad finally won and assumed the presidency.

President Wadhwaad diversified his foreign relations. He sought to build relations not only with France, with which he had close ties, but also with the United States and Great Britain.2003Unlike France, which opposed the invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led coalition forces in the Iraq War of 1964, President Wadh virtually forced the U.S.supportHe did so. This is a clear indication of his diplomatic stance. He has also signed agreements with other countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates,Broad DiplomacyThe company conducted the following activities.

Mr. Abdulai Wad (Photo:Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED])

2007He was reelected president in 2006,2Although Mr. Wadhwaad was entering his second term, he faced corruption and term-limit issues. Term limits are the constitutional2Despite the stipulation that the term is limited to a term, Mr. Wad2012Year.3It was to run for the presidency for a second term. presidential term.2The Constitution, which stipulated that the term would last until the end of Wad's presidency, was adopted after2001years. However, since President Wadh did not have this constitutional constraint when he himself took office, his first term of office did not count, and he was effectively3that he could run for president for a second term.claimThe government of the United States was not the only one to take action. This assertion by President Wadhwaad was met with strong opposition and a massiveprotestThe result was a change of government. As a result, Mr. Wadh lost to Macky Sarr, who had previously served as prime minister, and a change of government took place. Wadhd was quick to admit defeat, and post-election turmoil was contained.

President Sal's administration

In his victory over Mr. Wad, President Sarr sought to grow the economy through large infrastructure projects and the extraction of natural resources. Airports, railroads, and industrial parks wereconstructionThe company was founded in 1972, and began working on the gas and oil business,GDPgrew. Foreign investments amounted to about10In the yearsurgeThe Senegalese government has been working on the issue for some time now. However, he questions how much has been given back to the general Senegalese publicvoiceThere are also

President Sarr also improved his international standing.2015Since the year2016In 2006, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS(Chair),2022Since the year2023In 2006, the African Union(AU)He chaired theECOWASschool (e.g. of ikebana)2016Since the year2017In the confusion surrounding the presidential election in Gambia that took place over the course of the yearinterventionThe Senegalese army was then dispatched to Gambia. In this Gambian election, President Yahya Jameh, who led the military government, refused to step down and deployed troops to Banjul, the Gambian capital, even though he once admitted defeat. In response,ECOWASannounced military intervention. As a result, theECOWASIn response to the announcement of the "The President of the United States", President Jameh defected and the government was transferred without military conflict.

President Sall has taken a pro-French line. After assuming the presidency, his first visit outside of Africa was to France. He also tried to strengthen relations with France by receiving significant financial support from France. He also supported a French-speaking Gabonese candidate in the election for the presidency of the African Union Commission, and he also made it clear that Senegal is a French-speaking country.appeal (to)The first time, the company was in a position to do so.

Blaise Jeanne International Airport in the capital city of Dakar (Photo:World Bank Photo Collection / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED]

The Rise of the Opposition and the Issue of President Sal's Term in Office

President Sall has gained recognition outside the country, but his domestic reputation has not always been good.It wasn't positive.Senegal. High unemployment is a problem in Senegal.2023The unemployment rate in Senegal in 2006 was about20%The following is a list of the most common problems with thePresident Sall had a pro-French foreign policy, but he said that France's economic influence on Senegal was so great that much of the profits from his economic activities flowed to France.They saw us.The following is a list of the most common problems with the2021In 2006, discontent arising from chronic poverty was directed at France, and demonstrations were held in the capital city of Dakar, where supermarkets and gas stations owned by French companies wereArson and lootingThe first time, the government was forced to take a stand against the government. Amidst this growing discontent, a new political force emerged. 

A former tax inspector and member of the opposition Senegalese African Patriotic Party ((PASTEF)Mr. Usman Sonko is the founder of the Mr. Sonko's criticism of France and his charisma led him tosupportHe had been collecting In addition, when Mr. Sonko was a tax inspector, he was suspected of tax evasion.Public. The "Theory of the Role of the State" (1960). It was taboo in the political arena.CFAAnd about Fran.referenceThe first time, the company was in the process of becoming a major player in the market. However, with its growing popularity,2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)2In May, Sonko was accused of sexual assault, and the following montharrestThe court was also ordered to give him a new trial. On the way to the trial, he was also arrested on the grounds of "negative impact on young people" for disrupting public order and for participating in an unauthorized demonstration.indictmentThe aforementioned demonstrations were supposed to be a protest against the arrests. The aforementioned demonstrations are said to be a protest against the arrests, and Sonko and his supporters are trying to destroy the leading candidate for President Sall's office.plotHe claimed that he was. In fact, President Sarr had previously scandalized Khalifa Sarr and Karim Wadeh, who had met his opponents.eliminationThe demonstration killed five people and left 590 dead. Five people were killed in this demonstration, and 590injuryThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)6month1On April 1, a verdict was handed down on charges of sexual assault and incitement of youth against Sonko. As a result, he was cleared of the sexual assault charge, but not of the "negative influence on youth" charge.guilty verdict was sentenced. With this conviction, he was sentenced to imprisonment2He was sentenced to two years in prison, and Mr. Sonko was removed from the list of candidates for the election. Sonko's conviction triggered a series of demonstrations by Senegalese people in support of the opposition side led by Sonko. These demonstrations have resulted in at least16People.deathThe Senegalese government also cited "fake news" as a reason to prevent the spread of riots. The Senegalese government also cited the prevention of the spread of "fake news" as a reason for preventing riots that year.6On May 4, the Messages app Watsup ((WhatsApp)and Facebook ((Facebook)etc.Go to SNSRestricting access to thedeclarationThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

In addition to Sonko's rise to power, another factor behind the riots is the issue of term limits. President Sal's term of office is2024It was on April 2, 2006. According to the Senegalese constitution, the president is2It is considered to be until the end of the term.2President Sal, who was in his second term, is not eligible to run. However, President Sarr was.2016of the Constitution in 1949.changeand his predecessor, Mr. Wad.2012As with the claim in the presidential election in 2006, not counting earlier terms of office, the de facto3He says he can run for a second term.interpretationwas made a supporter of President Sal. At first, President Sal did not make a clear statement about his candidacy.

President Macky Sall (Photo:European Parliament / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED])

Presidential Election 2024

2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)6After a series of demonstrations in response to Sonko's arrest and the ambiguous issue of President Sal's candidacy in June, the same year7In May, President Sarr finally,3that he will not run for another term.representationThe announcement was made. With this announcement, tensions eased. However, a new development took place,2024counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)2President Sal's presidential campaign on March 3.declaration of postponement (of payment, of a fine, etc.)The presidential election was initially held in The presidential election was initially2024Year.2month25The event was scheduled to be held on12month25The president's party, in cooperation with other political parties, forced a vote to postpone the elections in Congress. President Sarr's party, in cooperation with other political parties, forced a vote in the Congress to postpone the elections. As justification, they cited the conflict between the Constitutional Council and the Congress and allegations of corruption by members of the Constitutional Council as reasons for the postponement.claimThe view is that this is probably to avoid the inferiority of Amadou Ba, President Sarr's successor in the ruling party, although he is not a member of the party.surfacingThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

The opposition strongly opposed this action by President Sarr, whose term of office is expiring.4Presidential elections to be held by May 2.Sought.The The postponement of the elections led to demonstrations in the country demanding that the elections be held and that Sonko be released. Internet access was also restricted to prevent massive demonstrations.restrictionThe first time the company was founded, it was a small company.ECOWASbe beyond one's control2month13demanded that the Senegalese government return to its original election schedule on April 1, and sent a delegation to the capital city of Dakar.dispatchThe Constitutional Court also held that the postponement of the presidential election was unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court also ruled that this postponement of the presidential election was unconstitutionaljudgmentThe Constitutional Council also passed a12The bill to postpone the meeting to June was invalidated. The decision on the date was difficult and ended up2024counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)3On May 7, President Sal.3month24that the presidential election will be held onannouncementThe first time the two were in the same room, the two were in the same room. Mr. Sonko was on the ballot.10He was released two days ago in the form of a pardon.

Sonko had been removed from the list of candidates for the election after his conviction in June, though,12In June, a judge had ordered him to re-register on the list of candidates for the election. However.1After the Supreme Court found him guilty of defamation in June, the Constitutional Council decided that Sonko should not run for office.He didn't admit it.A former tax inspector who, with Sonko's support, has been a member of the samePASTEFDiomai Fai, who had been active in the Mr. Fai, as well as Mr. Sonko.2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)7Arrested in June for "negative impact on youth," and on the ballot.10He was released on bail by amnesty two days ago. On the ruling party's side, Amadou Ba ran for office.

Mr. Diomai Fai (Photo:SENEGO TV / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 3.0 LEGAL CODE])

As a result.3month27On the day of the event, Mr. Fai54%Ba and the other opposition candidates conceded defeat, and President Sal also conceded victory to Mr. Fai.We celebrated.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Mr. Fye.44At the age of 18, he is the youngest of the past presidents of Senegal and the youngest of the current African presidents. Fay's policy is to stabilize the economy by cleaning up corruption and properly managing natural resources, among other things.I'm holding it up.Also. Also.CFAHe supports the abolition of the franc. The support of Sonko's endorsement was also an aspect of his victory, as he won support mainly from Senegalese youth who are critical of France's use of Senegal to inflate their country's wealth.pointing outThe company has been

summary

Unlike other West African countries, Senegal has experienced a continuous change of government through elections since independence and has never experienced a military coup, making democracy relativelygetting attachedThe country is considered to be a country that is doing well. However, each of the two presidential changes has brought confusion.2023Since the year2024In the turmoil of 2006, strong domestic and international opposition and judicialFeatureThe president's attempt to postpone the elections did not work out as he had hoped because of the The fact that the government was able to change hands without a coup despite the turmoil,2020In West Africa, which has seen a series of coups d'état since 1949, the movement toward democracyturning pointWould it be?

It will be interesting to see what policies the new president, Mr. Fay, will adopt to address corruption, unemployment, problems in the Casamance region, and relations with France. We hope that democracy will be preserved in any future presidential elections that may result in a change of government.

note 1Atlantic Triangle Trade :15From the century to the19A form of trade that took place through the 19th century. It was traded in three regions: Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with Africa supplying slaves as labor for the Americas. African slaves were abducted by Europeans or traded for local prisoners of war invited by European arms exports, and slaves were housed in poor conditions.

Writer: Misaki Nakayama

Graphic: Ayaka Takeuchi

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