Ex-Nigerian Leader Bids to Stop Senegal Election Violence

February 22, 2012 from Euronews

Former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo is in Senegal as a special African envoy to try to defuse tensions ahead of next Sunday's presidential election. The violence has left at least six people dead -- another victim was reported on Tuesday as protesters clashed with police. Incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade's decision to run for a third term his rivals say would be illegal has provoked furious protests. But Wade has won backing from the country's courts, which also banned opposition leader Youssou N'Dour from running.

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Abdoulaye Wade

Abdoulaye Wade is a Senegalese politician who was President of Senegal from 2000 to 2012. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974. A long-time opposition leader, he ran for President four times, beg... Explore this topic

Senegalese presidential election, 2012

A presidential election took place in Senegal on 26 February 2012, amidst controversy over the constitutional validity of a third term for incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade. In the runoff on 25 March, Macky Sall defeated the incumbent. Explore this topic

Senegal

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north. Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Gui... Explore this topic

Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour is a singer, percussionist, songwriter, composer and actor. Explore this topic

Olusegun Obasanjo

Oluṣẹgun Mathew Okikiọla Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ, GCFR is a former Nigerian Army general and former President of Nigeria. A Nigerian of Yoruba descent, Obasanjo was a career soldier before serving twice as his nation's head of state, as a military ruler between 13 February 1976 to 1 Oc... Explore this topic

Protest

An act of defiance or objection by an individual or group of people. Protests can take many forms: peaceful or violent, direct or indirect, large or small. Protests in the news are often political in nature, as groups of citizens voice their disagreement or dissatisfaction. Pr... Explore this topic

Politics of Senegal

Politics in Senegal takes place within the framework of a semi-presidential, democratic republic. The President of Senegal is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Senegal the head of government. However, executive power in Senegal is concentrated in the president's hand... Explore this topic

Term limit

A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effect... Explore this topic

Political campaign

A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided. In modern politics, ... Explore this topic

Dakar

Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland. Its position, on the western edge of Africa, is an advantageous departure point for trans-Atlantic and European ... Explore this topic

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Abdoulaye Wade

Senegalese presidential election, 2012

Senegal

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