Polls open for Senegal's presidential election

Sunday, 24 February 2019 13:33

Senegal went to the polls in the first round of a presidential election, with Macky Sall expected to win a second-term.

As many as 6.5 million people are registered to cast their vote, with polling stations open until 1800 GMT pm on Sunday.

Sall’s two main challengers - Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade, the son of the previous president - have been banned from running over corruption charges.

"Victory in the first round is indisputable," Sall told a campaign rally, hoping to cash in on his new infrastructure projects that is aimed at boosting economic growth.

Official results are due on Friday.

More from International News

Race to reach trapped survivors offers hope in Colombia quake zone

Rescuers raced in Colombia on Friday to free four people from a collapsed hotel, a rare sign of hope nearly four days after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Andean nation in decades left hundreds dead or missing.
France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s

France's top court on Friday blocked a bill banning social media access for under-15s, saying it infringed upon freedom of expression and delivering a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who asked his government to rewrite the legislation.
Japan's record rains strand thousands at Narita airport; kill eight

Record rainfall in Japan stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita airport on Friday, bringing floods to the surrounding area that disrupted transport, knocked out power to 20,000 homes and killed eight.
Wildfires in Britain hit record levels after homes burn in intense heat

Wildfires in England and Wales have hit a record level, fire chiefs said on Friday, warning that rescue services were battling to keep up with rising risks a day after fires raced from tinder-dry fields to engulf houses on the hottest day of the year.