Presidential election in Senegal – lead for opposition candidate Faye – News

• The people of Senegal were called on Sunday to elect a new president.
• A few hours after the polls closed, opposition candidate Diomaye Faye already had a clear lead.
• Media and observers published counts from about half of the polling stations.

In the presidential election in Senegal, a clear lead for opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye emerged just a few hours after the polls closed.

Although no results were announced centrally on Sunday evening, counts published by observers and media from around half of the polling stations predominantly showed the 43-year-old in the lead. Streets in the capital Dakar filled with cheering supporters. Four presidential candidates have already congratulated Faye on her as-yet-unconfirmed victory.

Landmark election for Senegal

The election is groundbreaking for the West African country with its around 18 million inhabitants. It’s about the successor to Macky Sall, who has ruled since 2012. According to initial counts, his ex-Prime Minister Amadou Ba (62), who was nominated as his successor, came in second place.

If no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round, there will be a runoff election. A total of 19 candidates competed.

There was a week-long political crisis before the election. Although Sall had decided not to run for a controversial third term of office following political pressure, he then surprisingly canceled the presidential election on February 3, which had been scheduled for February 25, because there had been disagreements over the approval of the candidates.

After protests with four deaths and weeks of tug-of-war between the institutions, the election finally took place around a month late. A good 7.3 million voters were registered. The official result is expected next week.

Legend:

Bassirou Diomaye Faye voting for the presidential election.

Keystone/Stefan Kleinowitz

Faye ran for the camp of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and his dissolved African Patriots of Senegal Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) party. Sonko, who was particularly revered among young Senegalese as an elite critic and anti-corruption fighter, was not allowed to run because he was convicted in a defamation trial.

Sall has been praised for successes in economic development in the country, where oil and gas production is expected to begin this year. Human rights activists, however, criticize the restrictions on political freedoms during his term in office.

Senegal is one of Africa’s most stable democracies and, unlike other countries in the region, has not experienced a coup or military coup since its independence from France in 1960.