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Senegal: Official election results – Macky Sall 66% Abdoulaye Wade 34%
Wade had been considered among the rare African leaders committed to democracy in a neighborhood better known for rule by strongmen. However, his decision to seek a third term in office was fiercely criticized by many Senegalese, and violent protests during the election season left at least six people dead.
His image also suffered after he began giving an increasing share of power to his son Karim, who was derisively called “the Minister of the Sky and the Earth” after he was handed control of multiple ministries including infrastructure and energy.
Wade also tried to rush a law through parliament that would have reduced the percentage a candidate needed to win on the first round from 50 to around 25 percent. He was forced to scrap the proposal after riots immobilized the capital.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
