DAKAR, Senegal: Anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to become Senegal’s youngest president on Monday after his rival accepted the race, sparking a political earthquake in the West African nation.
It represents a stunning victory for the 44-year-old, who was released just 10 days before Sunday’s election, the results of which have yet to be officially announced.
Of the 12 presidential elections held by popular vote since Senegal’s independence from France in 1960, this is the first time an opposition candidate has won in the first round.
Amadou Ba, 62, the main opponent of the ruling coalition, recognized Faye’s victory and called him to congratulate over the victory.
Outgoing president Macky Sall, who won in 2012 and 2019, also congratulated Faye, calling it a “victory for Senegalese democracy”. Sall did not stand for the Sunday’s vote.
Faye has promised left-wing pan-Africanism and to reconsider gas and oil contracts, with the country due to start production on recently discovered oil and gas reserves later this year.
He has never held a nationally elected position and has not yet spoken publicly since the election, which were held following three years of unrest and a political crisis.
The opposition candidate had appeared clearly ahead of former prime minister Ba, according to provisional results from some of the polling stations published by local media and on social networks.
Official results are expected before Sunday. An absolute majority was a must for a first-round win.
Local Newspaper front pages had already congratulated Bassirou Diomaye Faye. “Happy Birthday Mister President,” said the Walf Quotidien, referring to Monday being his birthday.
Hundreds of jubilant supporters of the winner of Sunday’s vote had gathered at his campaign headquarters in the capital Dakar late Sunday.
“It’s a total revolution. Everything is going to change. Behaviourally, socially and financially, everything is going to change,” Coumba Diallo, a singer known as Queen Biz, enthused.
At least 10 of the 17 candidates had congratulated Faye earlier on Monday in light of provisional results published by the local media.
No major incidents were reported during the election despite three years of unrest and a last-minute postponement of the vote.
Faye was released from jail on March 14 under a rapidly passed amnesty law, together with Sonko.
In 2023, he was jailed on charges linked to a standoff between Sonko and the state. Sonko was barred from running in the presidential election due to a conviction on defamation charges.
Faye, who is considered to be an anti-establishment candidate has vowed to fight corruption, restore national “sovereignty” and distribute wealth more equitably.
He has also announced to renegotiate mining, gas and oil deals signed with foreign companies.
