Anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was set to become the youngest president in Senegal’s history after his rival conceded the race, triggering a shockwave in the West African nation.
It marks a stunning victory on Monday for the 44-year-old, who was only freed from prison ten days before Sunday’s election, whose results are not yet official.
It is the first time in 12 presidential votes held under universal suffrage since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 that an opposition candidate has won in the first round of voting.
His main opponent from the governing coalition, Amadou Ba, 62, recognised Faye’s win and rang him to offer his congratulations.
Outgoing President Macky Sall, who did not stand after wins in 2012 and 2019, also congratulated him, hailing “a victory for Senegalese democracy”.
Faye has promised left-wing pan-Africanism and to renegotiate gas and oil contracts, with Senegal due to the start of production on recently discovered oil and gas reserves later this year.
The opposition candidate has never held a nationally elected position and has not yet spoken publicly since the vote, which followed three years of unrest and a political crisis.
Faye had appeared clearly ahead of former prime minister Ba, according to provisional results from individual polling stations published by local media and on social networks.
Official results are expected before the end of the week. An absolute majority was required for a first-round win.
Source link : https://www.trtworld.com/africa/senegal-anti-establishment-candidate-wins-presidency-as-rival-concedes-17513041
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Publish date : 2024-03-25 18:55:16
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