Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade acknowledged Monday that he fell short of a majority in his country 's weekend presidential vote and will have to face a runoff . The 85-year-old Wade is seeking a third term , but his 32 % showing in results from Sunday 's balloting was well short of the outright majority he had vowed to win . He was booed and jeered when he cast his vote in a contest overshadowed by violent protests . He sounded a conciliatory note toward the public during a Monday night news conference . `` I would like to pay homage to you , my dear compatriots , for the maturity , spirit of tolerance , and the civility that you have shown , '' Wade said . He offered words of respect for his 13 opponents , whom he called `` bad politicians and bad losers '' mere days before . Wade is likely to face Macky Sall , his former prime minister and protege , in the March runoff . Sall amassed 25 % of the vote on Monday evening and is expected to have the support of several of the other candidates , who vowed solidarity against Wade in February . Senegal , a small country on Africa 's west coast , has been an outpost of democratic stability in a region with a history of electoral chaos , civil wars and coups . But deadly demonstrations broke out after the country 's highest court cleared Wade to seek a third term in January , and protesters demanded that Wade give up his bid for a new mandate . Opponents argue that the court was compromised and the constitution limits presidents to two terms . But Wade successfully argued that he is exempt because he took office in 2000 , before the term limit was put in place . `` We 've had enough of this regime of thieves and assassins . We will defeat them here , '' said Cheikh Gassama , a voter at Wade 's polling place . Gassama and others chanted `` Na Dem '' -- `` step down '' -- as the president arrived . Wade did not address the crowd , looked visibly frustrated at one point and made some sort of gesture to the crowd , which also included some of his supporters . Wade once was hailed as a visionary , but his popularity has plummeted . `` Wade built schools , roads and hospitals , '' said Ayo Johnson , an analyst on African affairs . `` His leadership has now failed . ... There are increasing levels of poverty , inequality , lack of jobs and an increasing numbers of disillusioned youth . '' Protesters calling for Wade 's ouster have clashed on the streets , with at least three people killed during demonstrations last weekend , an opposition leader said . At least two others died in previous clashes . A presidential spokesman has accused opposition candidates and their supporters of fueling `` urban guerrilla warfare '' leading up to Sunday 's vote . But Amath Dansokho , head of the opposition June 23 Movement , blamed police for the escalating violence , saying they were responsible for some deaths during demonstrations in Dakar and Rufisque this month . The presidential spokesman denied the police or military were involved in the deaths .
President Abdoulaye Wade got 32 % of the vote March . He is likely to face his former prime minister in a Sunday runoff . Wade was booed as he casts his ballot in Abdoulaye Wade on Sunday . His bid for a third term provoked violent demonstrations in Dakar .