(Dakar) The anti-system candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye appeared to be getting closer on Sunday in Senegal to a victory in the presidential election in the first round which would be akin to a political earthquake.
Five other candidates congratulated Mr. Faye in view of the trend in the counting of votes still underway, at the end of an election which was to decide between continuity and a perhaps radical change after three years of agitation and political crisis.
Anta Babacar Ngom, the only candidate among 17 competitors, spoke on X of “undeniable victory”. Déthié Fall congratulated Mr. Faye on social networks “for his great victory clearly acquired in view of the very strong trends which have emerged since the start of the proclamation of the results”. Three other competitors, Papa Djibril Fall, Mamadou Lamine Diallo and El Hadji Mamadou Diao, did the same.
The results published office by office in the media and on social networks give a clear advantage to the candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye ahead of that of power, Amadou Ba, very far ahead of the 15 other competitors.
Hundreds of Mr. Faye’s supporters sang and danced to the sound of drums at his campaign headquarters in Dakar. Processions of young people on motorbikes traveled through the streets of the capital, horns blaring, chanting “to the presidential Palace”. The atmosphere was more somber among the few dozen supporters of Mr. Ba at his headquarters.
PHOTO JOHN WESSELS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
It’s already time for celebration in the streets of Dakar for supporters of candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Official results are not expected to be known until later this week.
A victory for Mr. Faye, 43, “candidate for system change” and “left-wing pan-Africanism”, and close to opponent Ousmane Sonko, could herald a real systemic challenge.
His program insists on the reestablishment of national “sovereignty”, which he believes has been sold off abroad. He promised to fight corruption and better distribute wealth. He also promised to renegotiate mining, gas and oil contracts concluded with foreign companies.
Senegal could start producing gas and oil in 2024.
PHOTO MOSA’AB ELSHAMY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The election was followed closely, Senegal being considered one of the most stable countries in a West Africa shaken by putsch.
He embodies “the choice for the break,” Mr. Faye said of himself while voting alongside his two wives in his village of Ndiaganiao (west).
Diaraaf Gaye, a 26-year-old trader, “voted Diomaye without thinking”. “It is time for the country to start on a new basis with young people” in power, he said.
Mr. Ba, 62, would extend the action of the outgoing Macky Sall, of whom he was Prime Minister just a few weeks ago and who appointed him to succeed him.
MM. Faye and Ba declared themselves “confident” of a victory in the first round.
An absolute majority of votes cast is required to win in the first round. No date has been set for a second round.
Voters queued in dozens or hundreds during the day in front of different offices, without any exact assessment of participation (which was 66% in 2019) being provided. No notable incidents were reported and several voters expressed their satisfaction at voting, after the unrest caused by the postponement of the election.
“We finally got there. Alhamdoulila (Praise be to God). Recent times have not been easy for Senegal,” said Mita Diop. “But all that is behind us,” rejoiced this 51-year-old trader, in front of a polling station in Dakar.
Some 7.3 million voters were asked to choose between 17 competitors.
The election is being followed closely, Senegal being considered one of the most stable countries in a West Africa shaken by putsch. Dakar maintains strong relations with the West, while Russia strengthens its surrounding positions.
PHOTO CARMEN ABD ALI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Some 7.3 million voters were called to the polls.
The Senegalese were initially supposed to vote on February 25 – the ballot boxes and Sunday ballots still bore this date.
The postponement of the vote sparked violence which left four people dead. Several weeks of confusion tested Senegal’s democratic practice, until the date of March 24 was decided. The campaign was reduced to two weeks, falling in the middle of the Muslim fasting month.
Despite these delays, EU observers noted that the operations took place “calmly, efficiently and (in a) very orderly manner,” said the head of the mission, Malin Björk.
This is the first time that an outgoing president has not run for re-election.
“New bases”
Mr. Ba had to deal with President Sall’s legacy of persistent poverty, high unemployment, and hundreds of arrests in recent times.
Since 2021, the country has experienced episodes of unrest caused by the standoff between Ousmane Sonko and those in power, combined with social tensions and the vagueness long maintained by President Sall over his candidacy for a third term. The crisis continued with the postponement of the presidential election.
Dozens of people were killed and hundreds arrested, damaging the country’s image, unfairly according to the government.