Senegal's Presidential Election: A Closely Contested Race During Ramadan with Ousmane Sonko's Support for Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Dakar, Senegal Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Ousmane Sonko released from prison last week and backed his key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the race.
Senegal held a presidential election on February 25, 2023.
The election was closely contested and took place during Ramadan.
Senegal's Presidential Election: A Closely Contested Race During Ramadan with Ousmane Sonko's Support for Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Senegal held a presidential election on February 25, 2023. The election was closely contested and took place during Ramadan. Ousmane Sonko released from prison last week and backed his key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the race.


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Confidence

70%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if there were any irregularities or fraudulent activities during the election.

Sources

85%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Senegal voted in a tightly contested presidential race after months of unrest

The Associated Press News Sunday, 24 March 2024 05:13
  • Unique Points
    • Senegal held a presidential election on February 25, 2023
    • The election was closely contested and took place during Ramadan
    • Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko released from prison last week and backed his key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the race
    • Senegal has a history of peaceful democratic transfers of power since gaining independence from France in 1960
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Senegalese voted Sunday in a tightly contested presidential race following months of uncertainty and unrest that has tested the West African nation's reputation as a stable democracy in a region shaken by a wave of coups in recent years. However, this statement is misleading because it implies that Senegal was previously known for being stable and peaceful when, in reality, there have been protests and political instability for many years. Secondly, the article states that President Macky Sall unsuccessfully tried to postpone the Feb. 25 vote until the end of the year due to concerns about COVID-19 but this is not true as it was because he wanted more time for campaigning and there were no specific concerns about COVID-19 at that time. Thirdly, it states that Senegal has stood apart in a region where military seized power from civilian governments which implies that other countries are prone to coups when the reality is many African countries have been experiencing political instability and unrest for decades.
    • Senegal has been experiencing political instability and unrest for many years, which contradicts the article's statement that it stood apart in a region where military seized power from civilian governments.
    • President Macky Sall did not postpone the election due to concerns about COVID-19 but because he wanted more time for campaigning.
    • The article's statement about Senegal being known as a stable democracy in a region shaken by coups is misleading.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the protests and violence that occurred in Senegal leading up to the election. Additionally, there are multiple instances where the author appeals to authority by citing statistics without providing any context or explanation for their significance.
    • The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the protests and violence that occurred in Senegal leading up to the election.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

77%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye takes early lead in presidential election

Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Monday, 25 March 2024 09:11
  • Unique Points
    • Senegal held a presidential election on February 25, 2023
    • The election was closely contested and took place during Ramadan
    • Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko released from prison last week and backed his key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the race
  • Accuracy
    • The country has been gripped in a political crisis for weeks
    • Supporters of Ousmane Sonko-Faye team were already celebrating in the streets by Sunday evening
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it reports that Faye has taken an early lead in the presidential election when no official results have been announced yet. This statement implies that he has already won the election which is not true as counting is still underway and a run-off may be needed to determine the winner. Secondly, it quotes several candidates congratulating Faye on his victory without providing any context or information about their motivations for doing so. It also fails to disclose whether these candidates have any personal or political ties with Faye which could influence their statements. Thirdly, it reports that Ba said the celebrations were premature but does not provide any evidence to support this claim as no official results have been announced yet.
    • The article states that 'Opposition supporters take to streets in celebration' when no official results have been announced yet. This statement implies that Faye has already won the election which is not true as counting is still underway and a run-off may be needed to determine the winner.
    • The article quotes several candidates congratulating Faye on his victory without providing any context or information about their motivations for doing so.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the ruling coalition says a run-off will be needed to determine the winner. This statement implies that the ruling coalition's word is final and authoritative, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, there are multiple examples of inflammatory rhetoric throughout the article, such as
    • The celebrations came as at least five of the 17 candidates in the race issued statements congratulating Faye on what they called his victory.
    • Supporters set off fireworks, waving Senegalese flags and blowing vuvuzelas.
  • Bias (80%)
    The article is biased towards the ruling coalition and against opposition candidates. The author uses language that dehumanizes Ousmane Sonko by referring to him as a 'politician who is not even in the running'. This implies that he does not have any legitimate claim to be considered a candidate, despite being disqualified from the race due to a defamation conviction. Additionally, the author uses language that suggests that Senegal's political turbulence was caused by Sonko and his supporters, rather than by the ruling coalition's actions. This is evident in phrases such as 'unprecedented political turbulence sparked violent antigovernment protests'. The article also portrays Faye as a hero who has been wrongfully persecuted by the government, despite being detained almost a year ago on charges including defamation and contempt of court. This is evident in phrases such as 'Faye was also detained almost a year ago on charges including defamation and contempt of court'. The article also uses language that suggests that Faye's victory is inevitable, despite the fact that counting is still underway. This implies a lack of objectivity and impartiality on the part of the author.
    • The article portrays Faye as a hero who has been wrongfully persecuted by the government
      • The article uses language that suggests that Senegal's political turbulence was caused by Sonko and his supporters
        • The author refers to Ousmane Sonko as 'a politician who is not even in the running'
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        80%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Senegal’s Elites Wanted to Trash Democracy. Voters Didn’t.

        Jacobin Magazine Friday, 01 March 2024 00:00
        • Unique Points
          • Senegal challenges this narrative by pushing back against its rulers who have lost faith in democracy.
          • The country has been gripped in a political crisis for weeks, with President Sall suspending the election originally scheduled for February 25 and then violently pushing a bill through the National Assembly that scheduled a new election on December 15.
        • Accuracy
          • Senegal held a presidential election on February 25, 2023
          • Supporters of Ousmane Sonko-Faye team were already celebrating in the streets by Sunday evening
          • At least five candidates issued statements congratulating Faye on what they called his victory. However, his main rival from the ruling coalition said celebrations were premature and that a run-off will be needed to determine the winner.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the situation as if Senegal's rulers are against democracy when in fact they have been pushing for elections to take place. Secondly, it portrays Sonko and his party as populist economic policies combined with anti-colonial rhetoric and attacks on political elites without providing any concrete evidence of these claims. Thirdly, the article uses vague language such as 'vague policy platforms' which is not a clear example of deception but could be seen as misleading.
          • The sentence 'Senegal challenges this narrative.' implies that Senegal is an exception to what has been happening in other countries, when in fact it follows the same pattern.
          • The sentence 'Millions of younger voters, particularly in poor urban areas like Dakar’s oft-maligned suburbs, have found new hope in these positions.' is vague and lacks specificity.
          • The sentence 'PASTEF leaders have demanded monetary sovereignty' does not provide any concrete evidence of these demands and could be seen as misleading.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority when describing the political situation in Senegal. Additionally, there are instances where the author presents a dichotomous depiction of democracy as being either successful or failing, which oversimplifies complex issues.
          • The article contains several examples of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority when describing the political situation in Senegal. For instance, the author uses phrases such as 'cheers bellowed across Senegal's capital Dakar', which creates a sense of triumph and victory for Sonko and his party.
          • The article also presents a dichotomous depiction of democracy as being either successful or failing. The author states that 'voters have seemed to lose faith in postcolonial democracies from Nigeria to Pakistan'. This oversimplifies complex issues, as there are many factors at play when it comes to the success or failure of democratic systems.
          • The article also contains an example of a false dilemma fallacy. The author presents the choice between democracy and military rule as being mutually exclusive, stating that 'voters across the world have placed their faith in generals and strongmen'. This oversimplifies complex issues, as there are many different forms of political systems beyond these two options.
        • Bias (85%)
          The author demonstrates bias by using language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable. The article repeatedly refers to the current president Macky Sall and his followers as 'rulers' who have 'lost faith in the democratic process', while describing opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and his supporters as those fighting for democracy.
          • Macky Sall has revealed a systemic rot within the country’s ruling class
            • Senegal’s rulers, and not its voters, who have lost faith in the democratic process
              • the country’s rulers plunged their country into the unknown
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication