Senegal’s Presidential Election: Opposition Leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye Emerges as Favorite
In a dramatic turn of events, opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye has positioned himself as the front runner to win Senegal’s presidential election, with several rivals acknowledging his lead.
After three years of turmoil and opposition demonstrations against incumbent Macky Sall, millions of Senegalese citizens participated in a peaceful vote on Sunday.
With a selection of 17 candidates, the ruling coalition’s candidate, Amadou Ba, has refused to accept defeat and anticipates a run-off vote to determine the ultimate winner.
Faye, a 44-year-old senior figure in the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko, had been incarcerated shortly before the election. Sonko, who was disqualified due to a defamation conviction, threw his support behind Faye.
Initial vote tallies revealed that Faye had secured the majority of votes, sparking exuberant celebrations on the streets of Dakar. Supporters lit fireworks, waved Senegalese flags, and blared vuvuzelas in jubilation.
Furthermore, five opposition candidates have endorsed Faye as the victor, with the sole female candidate, Anta Babacar Ngom, conveying her best wishes to Faye in a statement.
Although the total number of counted polling stations remains unclear, final provisional results are slated to be announced by Tuesday.
The collaboration between Faye and Sonko, operating under the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko”, has garnered support from prominent politicians and opposition figures.
“The population is faced with a choice between continuity and change,” remarked Faye after casting his ballot, urging his fellow competitors to acknowledge the eventual winner.
Notably, incumbent Macky Sall did not feature on the ballot for the first time in Senegal’s history. His ruling coalition nominated Ba, a 62-year-old former prime minister, as their candidate.
Ba’s campaign team expressed confidence in proceeding to a run-off vote based on the analysis of their experts, even in the worst-case scenario.
With approximately 7.3 million registered voters in a country of around 18 million, the election, originally scheduled for last month, was postponed by Sall, inciting deadly protests from the opposition. – BBC
