As the 2024 Election approaches in mid-sized state in Neria, we look at the leading face of the opposition, Jissel Baoul. Currently polling at 33%, the highest for any opposition candidate since 2010, can Jissel Baoul lead the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to the Presidential Palace?
Born in 1985 in rural Riveres Province to a community of fishermen, Baoul is part of a community of semi-nomadic Muslim’s known as the Yelame. Largely living in-formal communities on mangrove islands, the Yelame became targets of political violence during the 1990s due to resistance to industrial development and pollution. Baoul became a political advocate of the Yelame during the 2000s through his work against the Ministry of Industry. Eventually, through mass registration, Baoul was elected in the 2010 Elections as a member of DAP. The DAP was originally a party of mostly moderate academics who had little electoral appeal outside of city’s, however through Baoul’s advocacy the DAP has shifted into a more populist movement. In addition, the DAP was mostly Catholic prior to 2014, however with banning of explicitly Islamic party’s in 2015, Baoul has been welcoming of moderate Islamists.
In this election, Baoul won the nomination through a political alliance with the Regional People’s Alliance (RPA) and selected there leader as his VP candidate. In his acceptance speech broadcast over the Internet, Baoul called for unity between “all ethnic groups, against the great corruption at hand”. Within the multi-ethnic Kolda, ethnicity and religion have often been key predictions of a party’s success in an area. Baoul has actively pushed for cooperation, by going on a nationwide campaign tour. While demographics favor campaigning with most populous region’s of Guediawaye and Riveres, Baoul has so far travelled to 56 out of 74 Communes.
On one such trip in Kamele Commune, which is under active oversight of the military due to Islamist insurgencies, Baoul spoke to residents about military oversight. What is unique about Baoul’s campaign is a lack of traditional campaign stops. While the KLF-U often hold’s outdoor rallies with supporters waiving flags, Baoul and several DAP officials were spotted drinking tea and holding a unplanned meet and greet. No word was given to locals before hand, just simple word of mouth that the DAP’s leading man was here.
Jissel Baoul will participate in next week’s debate were he will face question’s about his policy. Baoul’s policy has largely been focused on combating corruption by ending singular private-government contracts, the de-militarization of the Moujerria Region and the abolition of the Koldan Bureau of Intelligence. Baoul’s economic policy is one of social-democracy with state aid and some regulation but an end to state control of industry.
