麻豆约拍

Newsday's James Copnall broadcast from Dakar as Senegal counted down the final 48 hours before a crucial presidential election.

It should have taken place last month, before President Macky Sall attempted to delay it until December.

He was forced to rethink that - but it has raised plenty of questions about the country's previously solid democratic standing.

As dawn broke over the capital, Dakar, James asked Senegalese journalist Borso Tall to guide Newsday listeners through the field of presidential hopefuls.

"We can clearly see about three different groups - one group knows the government... the second are those who want to bring change, these are people from the private sector; and [third] are others who are very small groups who probably know they are not having a major impact but still want to be part of the game in the name of democracy."

"Change cannot happen just like that. But [the election] may give more hope in the institutions... there was an attempt of institutional coup or constitutional crisis by delaying the elections but it did not go through."

(Pic: Campaigning in Dakar during final days before Senegal presidential election; Credit: Owen Clegg/麻豆约拍)

Show less