Bassirou Diomaye Faye is poised to ascend to the Senegalese Presidency following the concession of defeat by the incumbent party’s contender, Amadou Ba. As a consequence, a broad victory is claimed by the nation’s opposing coalition. The Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition, of which Ba is a key figure, issued a public acknowledgment of Faye’s victory in the inaugural round of the presidential vote, pending official affirmation. Ba extols Faye’s win and hopes for his successful tenure, focusing on the prosperity of the Senegalese residents.
On his 44th birthday, Mr Faye secured an outright victory with 56% of the votes, juxtaposing Mr Ba’s 31%, according to the initial results tallied by independent local spectators. With the majority of the votes counted from the first round of voting, Faye managed to surpass the 50% threshold, eliminating the necessity for a second round.
Senegal’s electoral authority, CENA, is scheduled to reveal the official results on Tuesday, subject to verification by an appellate court. An estimated 70% of the approximately seven million registered voters, out of Senegal’s 17 million population, participated in these elections, contrary to the forecasts of a closer competition possibly leading to a second round.
Macky Sall, the incumbent president, congratulated Mr Faye on his victory, alluding to it as a triumph for the country’s democratic process. The win symbolises an impressive feat for Faye, who was discharged from prison scarcely two weeks prior after nearly a year behind bars on charges linking to purported contempt of court, defamation and acts posing a threat to public peace.
Chosen as an eleventh-hour candidate by a coalition of opposition entities spearheaded by the banned Pastef party, Faye’s candidacy filled the void left by their initial nominee, Ousmane Sonko. Sonko, Ziguinchor’s southern town’s mayor, had his candidacy invalidated after a defamation conviction. Senegalese legislation prohibits those convicted of crimes from vying for presidency. The united front of Sonko and Faye ran their campaign, boldly asserting their inseparability.
The ex-tax inspector, Mr Faye, who once held the position of general secretary for the disbanded Pastef party, enjoys substantial backing from the Senegalese youth, mirroring their dissent towards the established order. Accusations of inciting disorder fuelled the party’s dissolution. This influential youth demographic has been seen protesting against the current state of affairs or planning emigration.
In an effort to address corruption, Mr Faye pledged to bring in governmental transparency and to scrutinise the allocation of contracts within the emerging petroleum sector. This stance has led to anxiety amongst potential investors. Mr Ba, a seasoned minister within the areas of foreign and finance, provided a more conservative candidacy offering stability within the existing framework.
In advance of the election, both Mr Faye and Mr Sonko rephrased their earlier assertive messages and withdrew from a proposed departure from the CFA currency, a Euro-tied currency adopted by over a dozen nations across western and central Africa.
The election build-up encountered turbulence due to an unexpected delay implemented by Mr Sall, originally planned for February 25th, citing concerns over the suitability of candidates. This decision gained support from his associates in Parliament, causing a 10-month postponement of the vote.
This unexpected move provoked outrage in Senegal, a country with a history of peaceful power transitions amid a region known for political upsets. Protesters called for the rescheduled elections and denounced Mr Sall, in power since 2012 and a potential candidate for a constitutionally dubious third term until he withdrew last year, for unlawfully attempting to extend his term.
The country’s constitutional council chastised Mr Sall for the delayed election and announced that his presidential term could not be extended. Mr Sall promised to step down from the presidency at the end of his second term, on April 2.
Research director Babacar Ndiaye, of Dakar’s Wathi think-tank, expressed confidence in Senegal’s capability to manage challenging situations and reaffirmed the durability of the nation’s democratic foundations, “despite occasional instability”.
Following Mr Ba’s election loss to Mr Faye, a slight increase was noticed in Senegal’s US dollar bonds. The bonds had previously plummeted when the vote was initially deferred. On Monday, the 2033 bond was priced at 84 cents on the dollar, marking an increase of nearly 1 percent. This information is copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024.