Senegal, with a ticking economy, is seen as a stable, safe country — no small feat in western Africa, where coups, crises and insurgencies abound.
But then the president, Macky Sall, blew up any chance of a mundane election.
He went on state television and canceled the vote, alleging corruption in the way candidates were approved by constitutional court.
And then, in a dramatic move, he released the leading opposition candidate and the leader of the opposition party from prison.
Then there are 17 other candidates, among them former mayors and prime ministers.
Persons:
Macky, Sall backtracked, Amadou Ba, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, He’s, Ousmane Sonko
Locations:
Senegal, Africa