Human rights activist Anta Babacar Ngom has declared her intention to run for president ahead of the upcoming election in Senegal. She made this declaration by filing her nomination papers for the presidential election scheduled for March 24, 2024.
[h3]What this means for Senegal and Africa[/h3]
This is historical for Senegal because it will be the first time a female presidential candidate will be on the ballot paper since 2012, over a decade ago, when two female candidates entered the race, each receiving less than 1 per cent of the total vote.
Ngom, 40, is known for her strength of character and for advocating for the social and economic welfare of the people of Senegal. She has advocated for the rights of women and youth, demographics disproportionately affected by economic challenges such as high unemployment and soaring living costs. Ngom is also a prominent business figure, serving as the CEO of Sedima, Senegal's largest poultry company.
Ngom is also a prominent business figure, serving as the CEO of Sedima, Senegal's largest poultry company.
Her ambition is to break down barriers in Senegal's conservative society to become the country's first woman president.
"The young girls I meet ask for my support. They do so because they know that when a woman comes to power, she will put an end to their suffering. I'm not going to forget them."
Her ambition is to break down barriers in Senegal's conservative society to become the country's first woman president.
[h3]A History of Female-friendly Leadership[/h3]
According to Voice of America (VOA), Senegal is currently one of the top African countries with the highest representation of women in parliament, at 44%. Although Ngom faces slim odds of victory in the upcoming election, a lot of progress has been made in advancing female leadership, as she has now become the first female candidate to run for president in over a decade.
"We have to be there, even if we don't stand a chance," said Selly Ba, an activist and sociologist. "We don't stand a chance in these elections. But it's important that we have women candidates, women who are in the race."
"It's crucial to strike a balance between modern evolution and respect for our customs. Women must be able to express themselves without hindrance, while preserving our cultural identity and valuing the traditional values that have shaped our society," Ngom told reporters during her road campaign.
Senegal is on its way to catching up with Rwanda, which has 61.3% female representation in parliament, the highest in the world.
[h3]Who Else is in the Race?[/h3]
In the upcoming presidential election in Senegal, 93 candidates, including six women, initially declared their intent to run. Following the evaluation by the Constitutional Council, only 20 candidates were approved to proceed, among them just two women, Ngom and Rose Wardini. However, Wardini was later disqualified for holding French citizenship, making Ngom the sole female contender in the election.
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