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Senegal's Macky Sall Receives 65 Percent of Presidential Vote


Senegalese opposition presidential candidate Macky Sall (R) celebrates at a news conference in Dakar, Senegal, March 25, 2012.
Senegalese opposition presidential candidate Macky Sall (R) celebrates at a news conference in Dakar, Senegal, March 25, 2012.

Official results from Senegal's presidential runoff give opposition leader Macky Sall more than 65 percent of the vote.

Macky Sall

  • Age: 50
  • Former protégé of outgoing President Wade
  • Served as prime minister 2004 - 2007
  • Fell out with president after his son, Karim Wade, was called to parliament to answer questions
  • Formed the Alliance for the Republic Party in 2008
  • Mayor of his hometown of Fatick
  • Backed by all main opposition candidates in second round

Sunday's vote pitted Sall against outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade, who received 34 percent.

The 85-year-old Wade conceded defeat within hours of the polls closing, easing concerns that he was attempting to serve a third term despite the constitution limiting a president to two terms.

Sall was one of 13 opposition candidates in the first round of the election, which Wade won with 35 percent of the vote. The losing candidates turned their support to Sall, who promised to reform the government and lower basic food costs.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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