In July 2008, the National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment increasing the length of the presidential term to seven years, as it was prior to the
adoption of the 2001 constitution. This extension didn't apply to
Abdoulaye Wade's 2007–2012 term, but Minister of Justice
Madické Niang stressed on this occasion that Wade could potentially run for re-election in 2012 if he was still healthy. The 26 February 2012 date for the election was decreed by
President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade on 23 November 2010. President Wade indicated that he would stand for his third term, set at seven years by the constitution. While the
2001 constitution limits a President to two terms, Wade argued that his
2000 election to his first seven-year term falls under the previous constitution, which did not provide for
term limits.
2010–2011 protests and violence In April 2010, Wade came under fire for unveiling the
African Renaissance Monument, a monument that was deemed too expensive. It was also criticised by religious leaders for
the immodest attire of the women in the monument. While there was domestic criticism, the United States'
Jesse Jackson and Malawian President
Bingu wa Mutharika praised Wade's representation of Africa. Similarly,
North Korea, who contributed to the construction of the monument in exchange for a tract of land, congratulated Wade. In December 2010, Senegalese troops engaged and repulsed 100
MFDC rebels after they attacked Bignona,
Casamance. In February 2011, the Senegalese government cut ties with
Iran, later alleging that forensic analysis of bullets obtained from rebels revealed that the Iranian government had supplied them. On 18 February 2011, Oumar Bocoum, a soldier, used gasoline to set himself on fire outside the presidential palace in
Dakar, following a pattern of protest used
throughout the Middle East. In June, after violent
protests, Wade dropped plans for two constitutional changes:
lowering the percentage of votes required for a first-round victory from 50% to 25% and creating the
position of vice-president, also to be elected. Critics feared that Wade would use this to ensure his re-election against a split opposition, and to make his son vice-president. In response to a protest planned for 23 July, a ban on protesting in Dakar was laid down on 21 July 2011; the protesters in response moved the planned protest outside the city.
Constitutional Court term limit ruling On 27 January 2012, the
Constitutional Court of Senegal ruled that Wade was allowed to run for a third term – according to the ruling, his first term did not count under the new constitution. Protests erupted the following day. Buildings burned across the capital
Dakar. Police fired
tear gas at youth protesters who questioned the ruling. Wade made a television appearance in which he called the protests "displays of petulance" and promised an "open" electoral campaign with "no restrictions on freedom." Protesters said that they would turn the
Place de l'Obelisque in central Dakar into the country's version of
Tahrir Square, the focal point of the
2011 Egyptian revolution which led to the ouster of Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak. The protests continued into February. Riot police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets in Dakar on 19 February 2012, one week before the election. The protests finally ended when Sall defeated Wade in the runoff election. ==Candidates==