Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye has emerged as the frontrunner to win Senegal’s presidential election, following the concession of several rivals.
The peaceful vote on Sunday saw millions of Senegalese participating, marking a significant moment after three years of turbulence and opposition protests against the incumbent, Macky Sall.
The ruling coalition’s nominee, Amadou Ba, rejected reports of defeat and expressed readiness to contest a run-off vote. Voters had a choice of 17 candidates.
Mr. Faye, 44, a senior official in the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko, found himself in the spotlight after being released from jail just days before the election. His party leader, Mr. Sonko, had been disqualified from the race due to a defamation conviction.
The initial tallies announced on television revealed Mr. Faye’s lead, prompting jubilant celebrations across the capital Dakar, with supporters setting off fireworks and waving Senegalese flags.
The victory declaration by Mr. Faye also garnered support from five opposition candidates, including the only female candidate, Anta Babacar Ngom, who wished him success in a statement.
However, it remains unclear how many of the 15,633 polling stations have been counted, with final provisional results anticipated by Tuesday.
Mr. Sonko, who endorsed Mr. Faye’s candidacy, emphasized their joint effort under the banner “Diomaye is Sonko”, highlighting their shared vision despite past legal challenges. Notably, some prominent politicians and opposition figures have thrown their weight behind Mr. Faye.
“The population is choosing between continuation and rupture,” remarked Mr. Faye after casting his vote, urging all contenders to accept the outcome of the election. Meanwhile, the incumbent, Mr. Sall, who was not on the ballot for the first time in Senegal’s history, saw his coalition’s candidate, Mr. Ba, a former prime minister, preparing for a potential run-off.
With about 7.3 million registered voters in the country of around 18 million, the election was originally scheduled for last month but was postponed by Mr. Sall, triggering deadly opposition protests.
Choice for the change
If Mr Faye eventually wins, that could signify a fundamental transformation in Senegal’s political landscape. With a commitment to restoring national “sovereignty,” combating corruption, and promoting fair wealth distribution, the opposition offers a vision for substantial change.
He has also pledged to renegotiate contracts with foreign companies in key sectors like mining and oil.
“I remain confident about the choice for the change that I am able to embody better than any other candidate,” said Mr Faye as he voted on Sunday.
Mr Ba, meanwhile, has pitched himself as the continuity candidate for outgoing President Mucky Sall.
Both contenders, who are tax inspectors, pitched themselves as the best candidate for young people in a country where half the population is under 20.
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