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Just a little over two weeks ago the newly elected President of Senegal, as well as his newly appointed Prime Minister were behind bars. Seems the outgoing President Maquis Salle thought them rogues, vagabonds, and cause of disorders. So he did what tyrant wannabes do: threw the two "miscreants" behind bars. Apparently the vast majority of Senegalese must have begged to differ. They rioted and caused much disorder, to the chagrin of the Oligarch Maquis Salle; who eventually buckled under the pressure, and released the "ruffians" under an amnesty. They promptly went on to win the elections. It didnt even go to the second round.
Quite a fascinating tale. The more politically powerful of the two is one Ousmane Sonko. Without the machinations of the outgoing Oligarch Maquis Salle, he should have been the winner and President. But his contrived criminal record barred him from running. His junior and sidekick Bassirou Diomaye Faye somehow escaped the criminal record, and was available to run. Sonko threw his weight behind him. It was a sweep; and both are laughing all the way to the Presidential Palace.
They have no easy task ahead. Both are outsiders in every sense of the word. They are not rich at all. So have never been part of the Oligarchy. They have both never held administrative offices. They have been radicals and activists. For the moment they dont have the Parliament, or Assemblee, or whatever it is called in Senegal. So they may have to wait for upcoming Parliamentary elections.
I am not sure they like the French very much. So Macron has his work out for him. Macron has seen putchists hostile to France muscle their way into power in Sahel
www.bbc.com
Just a little over two weeks ago the newly elected President of Senegal, as well as his newly appointed Prime Minister were behind bars. Seems the outgoing President Maquis Salle thought them rogues, vagabonds, and cause of disorders. So he did what tyrant wannabes do: threw the two "miscreants" behind bars. Apparently the vast majority of Senegalese must have begged to differ. They rioted and caused much disorder, to the chagrin of the Oligarch Maquis Salle; who eventually buckled under the pressure, and released the "ruffians" under an amnesty. They promptly went on to win the elections. It didnt even go to the second round.
Quite a fascinating tale. The more politically powerful of the two is one Ousmane Sonko. Without the machinations of the outgoing Oligarch Maquis Salle, he should have been the winner and President. But his contrived criminal record barred him from running. His junior and sidekick Bassirou Diomaye Faye somehow escaped the criminal record, and was available to run. Sonko threw his weight behind him. It was a sweep; and both are laughing all the way to the Presidential Palace.
They have no easy task ahead. Both are outsiders in every sense of the word. They are not rich at all. So have never been part of the Oligarchy. They have both never held administrative offices. They have been radicals and activists. For the moment they dont have the Parliament, or Assemblee, or whatever it is called in Senegal. So they may have to wait for upcoming Parliamentary elections.
I am not sure they like the French very much. So Macron has his work out for him. Macron has seen putchists hostile to France muscle their way into power in Sahel

Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye: Senegal opposition leaders freed days before election
Despite spending months in prison, Bassirou Diomaye Faye is one of the favourites in this month's election.
