In Senegal’s presidential election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, an anti-establishment candidate, emerged as a strong contender for victory early Monday, amidst a backdrop of recent unrest and political turmoil. Meanwhile, the governing coalition expressed confidence in forcing a second-round vote.
The eventual winner will bear the responsibility of leading Senegal, a country often regarded as a bastion of democracy in tumultuous West Africa, through its recent challenges, including the management of forthcoming oil and gas revenues.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the outcome, official results are not anticipated until the week’s end, with a decisive majority required for a first-round win.
Opposition candidate Faye campaigned on promises of significant change and a left-leaning pan-Africanist agenda. Early reports, based on unofficial results from various polling stations, placed him ahead of his rival, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, representing the governing coalition.
Several presidential contenders extended congratulations to Faye as initial vote counts hinted at his lead. Among them, Anta Babacar Ngom, the sole female candidate, and Dethie Fall acknowledged Faye’s apparent victory.
Faye, aged 44, and Ba, aged 62, both former tax inspectors, stood out as frontrunners among 17 candidates. Faye’s supporters celebrated jubilantly at his campaign headquarters in Dakar, while Ba’s camp maintained a more subdued atmosphere, confident nonetheless in forcing a second round.
However, Ba’s campaign team accused Faye’s camp of potential manipulation and expressed determination to contest a second round if necessary, cautioning against what they termed a “populist adventure” for Senegal.
‘Choice for the change’
A victory for the opposition’s Faye in Senegal’s election could signal a significant transformation in the country’s political landscape.
Faye, representing the anti-establishment movement, has vowed to initiate a comprehensive overhaul, focusing on restoring national sovereignty, combating corruption, and ensuring a fairer distribution of wealth.
Additionally, he has committed to renegotiating contracts in the mining, gas, and oil sectors, particularly as Senegal prepares for the commencement of hydrocarbon production later this year.
Expressing confidence in his vision for change, Faye emphasized his candidacy as the embodiment of this transformation during his voting process on Sunday.
In contrast, Ba positions himself as the candidate of continuity, aligning with the policies of outgoing President Macky Sall.
Both candidates have sought to appeal to the youth demographic, which constitutes half of Senegal’s population.
Emphasizing the importance of empowering young people, voters like Diaraaf Gaye, a 26-year-old shopkeeper, expressed their support for Faye, viewing his candidacy as an opportunity for a fresh start with youth representation in governance.
‘Finally got there’
Originally scheduled for February 25, Senegal’s elections faced an unexpected postponement by President Sall, sparking the country’s most significant political crisis in decades, resulting in four fatalities.
With a voter base of 7.3 million, Senegal proceeded with the election on Sunday, witnessing a calm and orderly atmosphere at polling stations, with many citizens beginning their day with early morning prayers before casting their votes.
Reflecting on the challenges the nation has endured, 51-year-old trader Mita Diop expressed gratitude for reaching this point, acknowledging Senegal’s recent tumultuous times.
Despite being disqualified from running due to a defamation conviction, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko noted the substantial turnout of young voters and expressed confidence in the prospects of his endorsed candidate, Faye, as voting took place in his stronghold of Ziguinchor.
The presence of numerous observers from civil society organizations, the African Union, ECOWAS, and the European Union ensured the transparency and efficiency of the electoral process, as affirmed by Malin Bjork, head of the EU mission.
Following a period of uncertainty, Senegal’s constitutional authorities intervened to override President Sall’s attempt to delay the election until December, compelling a reset to March 24, leading to a condensed campaign period overlapping with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
If elected, Ba, Sall’s chosen successor, would inherit Sall’s legacy characterized by widespread arrests, persistent poverty, high unemployment rates, and a significant number of migrants embarking on hazardous journeys to Europe annually.
Recent years have witnessed several instances of unrest, partly stemming from tensions between the outspoken Sonko and the government, resulting in numerous fatalities and arrests since 2021.
