A 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye has emerged as the winner of the Senegal presidential election days after returning from prison.
According to the National Election Commission’s provisional tally on Monday, Faye had won 53.68% of the vote, whereas the ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba won 36.2% of the vote, with 90% of the results from polling stations counted.
A candidate needs an absolute majority of 50% of the vote to win the first round. Since Faye has more than 50%, a run-off vote can now be ruled out.
Ba had already called Faye earlier in the day to concede defeat following Sunday’s elections, as had many other candidates vying for the presidency. Faye and Ba were the top presidential contenders.
“In light of presidential election result trends and while we await the official proclamation, I congratulate… Faye for his victory in the first round,” Ba said in a statement in the afternoon.
Outgoing President Macky Sall offered his congratulations to Faye shortly before the electoral commission posted its results, writing: “I salute the smooth running of the presidential election of March 24, 2024, and congratulate the winner, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who the trends show as the winner. It is the victory of Senegalese democracy.”
Faye, who was released from prison 10 days before the election, was a relatively unknown political figure beyond his party. He holds a senior position within the party, led by prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.
Sonko, viewed as the primary contender against President Macky Sall’s ruling party, was barred from presidential candidacy due to a defamation conviction, which he alleges was politically motivated—a claim refuted by authorities.
Following the dissolution of Sonko’s Pastef party, members of various political factions formed a coalition and selected Faye as their candidate in November. With both Sonko and Faye released from
detention on March 16, Sonko promptly embarked on a campaign, rallying his supporters to endorse Faye.
The central themes of the opposition’s campaign revolved around combating government corruption and safeguarding Senegal’s economy from external influences.
Ba, who resigned from his position as prime minister to focus on his campaign, received support from Macky Sall. Sall’s ambiguity regarding a potential third term, despite being constitutionally limited to two terms, contributed to political unrest last summer.
The elections occurred following Sall’s unsuccessful attempt to postpone the February 25 vote until the year’s end, leading to violent protests. Despite this, the election proceeded on Sunday.
Senegal stands out in a region where military coups have displaced civilian governments in countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. This election marks Senegal’s fourth peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from France in 1960.
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