PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki has congratulated Senegalese opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade on his victory over President Abdou Diouf in the country’s general election. “The South African government is convinced that under Mr Wade’s leadership, Senegal will prosper and the relations between our two countries will grow further,” Mbeki said in a statement. Mbeki also congratulated the Senegalese people for their “outstanding” conduct during the election process. He said Diouf would be remembered as a statesman not only in his own country but also by the continent as a whole. “It is clear that the history of democracy is firmly established in Senegal and the whole election process could serve as an example for many countries in the world.” Wade’s victory ends 40 years of Socialist Party rule.