wade concedes defeat

Senegal president concedes defeat
09:56 AEDT Mon Mar 26 2012


President Abdoulaye Wade has conceded defeat to his former protege Macky Sall, congratulating him several hours after polls closed.

Early results on Sunday showed the opposition candidate had trounced the 85-year-old incumbent.

Wade called Sall on Sunday evening to congratulate him on his victory, state television reported. The move alleviated fears that Wade would attempt to stay in office after 12 years or would challenge the runoff results.

Even before Wade conceded, Sall's supporters began celebrating in the streets of the capital, singing and marching through downtown Dakar. Some danced on the roofs of moving vehicles, and one man did a cartwheel amid the traffic near the Place de l'Independance.

Wade, who first took office in 2000, has seen his popularity suffer amid soaring costs of living and unemployment in this country on Africa's western coast.

His decision to seek re-election had infuriated many voters. Violent protests left at least six people dead, and analysts had warned of further unrest if Wade won.

On the streets of Senegal's capital, images of Wade on campaign posters had their eyes scratched out. And his convoy was hit by rocks in the final days of the run-off campaign.

Sall, 50, is a geologist who worked for years under Wade. The two had a falling out and Wade has been describing Sall as an apprentice who has not yet taken in "the lessons of his mentor".

Wade's image began to suffer after he started 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.