Senegal presidential race wide open after Sall rules out reelection bid

FILE PHOTO: Senegal's President Macky Sall arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, Friday, June 23, 2023 in Paris, France. Lewis Joly/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

DAKAR (Reuters) -A long-awaited decision on Monday by Senegal's President Macky Sall not to run for a third term next year has thrown open the race to lead the West African nation on the verge of becoming an oil and gas producer.

Neither Sall's Alliance for the Republic party, nor the broader Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) ruling coalition, has put forward any candidates since Sall ended widespread speculation about his political intentions.