Senegal Elections Counting

Senegalese President Macky Sall is on course for victory in the February poll with nearly 60% of votes, according to preliminary figures provided by local media and a source inside the electoral commission. Local Media further say his closest rival, former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, is said to have won 20 percent, with former tax inspector Ousmane Sonko receiving a mere 16 percent. Sall's team declared him victor on Sunday, but the opposition said their results showed he had not won the required 50 percent of votes to avoid a run-off next month against a second-placed candidate. Sall won popularity for driving economic growth during his first term, building highways and an airport and widening the electricity grid. Yet the opposition and rights groups criticized him saying he used his influence to bar major candidates from running in the election because of corruption convictions.1. Ebrima Sall Executive Director Trust Africa2. Jean Bwasa Africa Analyst