By Paul Ejime
Dakar, March 17, 2024 – Ahead of the March 24 crucial presidential election, Senegalese Christians on Sunday prayed for peaceful and transparent electoral process in their country.
Similar prayers were also held at various mosques in the Muslim dominated country on Friday.
Abbe Jean Joe, who officiated the Mass at Our Lady of Victory, Diourbel, east of Dakar, the Senegalese capital, reflected on the Gospel of John 12: 20-23, especially the looming Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, hence the admonition that a grain of wheat has to die in order to bear much fruit.
Abbe Joe, Dean of Diourbel Parishes and Parish Priests was joined in the Mass celebration by the Our Lady of Victory, Diourbel Parish Priest Abbe Pierre Claver Ndione and Fr. Marcel Mbengue.
The service was part of activities marking the Feast of the Legion of Mary, which brought together members of the group from various Parishes in Diourbel.
Senegal’s 7.03 million registered voters go to poll on the 24th of March to elect a new president from among 19 candidates, including one woman contender in the country of more than 18 million people.
Incumbent President Marcky Sall is not seeking re-election with his second term mandate ending on the 2nd of April 2024.
The run-up to the election had been characterised by uncertainty and political tensions over the rescheduling of the presidential vote, originally fixed for 25 February 2024.
The tensions have eased after the Constitutional Council’s recent intervention resulting in the election being rescheduled to the March 24, coupled with the general amnesty announced by President Sall leading to the release of some detainees, including opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the man he has anointed for the presidential vote, since he himself has been ruled out of the race. (GBN)
