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Senegal's opposition leader seeks reassurance for investors ahead of Sunday's vote

One of the main challengers in the Senegalese presidential election on Sunday, Macky Sall’s party, has tried to reassure investors regarding his plans for West Africa. The nation is set to start producing oil and natural gas later this year.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye is an anti-establishment presidential candidate, who analysts believe has a high chance of winning. He told that he would focus on rebuilding the rule-of-law, restoring the social cohesion, and bringing stability back to Senegal, which was hit by protests.

This will give investors the peace of mind they need to do their work and the calm necessary for the economy to take off," Faye said, 43, in his first English-language interview after being released on Thursday.

He said, "In this regard, I can better guarantee the safety of foreign investors than any other candidate."

Faye has been released from prison as part of a new amnesty bill introduced to ease tensions. He was held in prison since April, on charges of defamation and court contempt.

He has pledged a number of changes if elected. These include plans to renegotiate Senegal’s oil and natural gas contracts, and introduce a brand new currency. Analysts say that such actions could damage Senegal's image as a destination for investment.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Senegal’s oil and natural gas projects that are expected to begin production this year could boost GDP to double-digit growth by 2025.

Senegal and seven other West African Monetary Union countries share the CFA Franc, pegged at the euro.

Faye, at a recent campaign event, appeared to retreat from his promise to abandon the currency. He said he would work with partners in the West African bloc ECOWAS to first reform the monetary system on a regional basis.

He told that if his efforts in ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and UEMOA (the Union Monetary System), did not yield results, he would go it alone.

Faye remained true to his promise in the manifesto that he would renegotiate contracts for mining and energy signed by Sall's administration. He said that "any commitments (Senegalese people) have made to external partners will not be violated."

Former tax inspector Ousmane sonko was a relative unknown before he was endorsed by popular opposition leader Ousmane. Sonko was disqualified for the elections due to a conviction of defamation.

He refused to say what role Sonko would play in his future government.

Normaly a beacon for stability in an unstable region, Senegal is currently rocked by violent demonstrations. The most recent was after Sall tried to delay the presidential elections by 10 months.

After a court declared the delay to be unconstitutional, he set the date of March 24, 2019.

The opposition has been accused by the president's backers of stirring up unrest. Demonstrators against the government have caused damage to infrastructure and closed businesses.

Faye stated that investors must understand why we fight to gain power. It is not to be in power, but to set this country on the correct track. Reporting by Portia Crowe Editing by Mark Potter

(source: Reuters)