Early provisional results in Senegal's presidential election put opposition leader Faye ahead
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Early results from Sunday's presidential election in Senegal put opposition leader Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the lead, triggering wild jubilations in the capital, Dakar.
The official Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported that the "trends" of provisional results at polling stations in Dakar "favour" Mr. Faye, 44, who was only released from prison a few days ago after benefitting from an amnesty granted by outgoing President Macky Sall.
APS said Mr. Faye is ahead at several polling centres in the capital, well ahead of the government's candidate, former Prime Minister, Mr. Amadou Ba, 62, whose campaign team is looking at a runoff in the "worst case scenario".
No incidents were officially reported on Sunday.
The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), has yet to release official results, but the mood in the camp of the opposition has been jubilant, as supporters waving the national flag have poured into the streets singing, dancing, tooting car horns, blowing vuvuzelas and setting off fireworks in anticipation of a major first round victory for their candidate.
Final provisional results could be out by Tuesday.
Under Senegal's constitution, the winner in the first round should obtain 50% + 1 of the votes. Otherwise, the two frontrunners will go into a run-off.
There were 19 candidates, including a woman, Anta Babacar Ngom, 40, on the ballot. However, APS reported on Saturday that two of them stepped down for Mr. Faye, 44.
Former President Abdoulaye Wade’s Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) also announced last Friday that it was joining Mr. Faye in the election, giving him a big boost.
The results have also led to five opposition candidates, including Anta Babacar Ngom, declaring Mr. Faye the winner and wishing him success.
But Mr Ba's campaign has rejected an outright first round victory for Mr. Faye, saying in a statement: “For our part, and considering the feedback of the results from our team of experts, we are certain that, in the worst case scenario, we will go to a run-off.”
Interestingly, Mr. Faye's camp has yet to make a comment.
Long queues formed at polling stations across the country on Sunday as an estimated 7.3 million registered voters cast their votes.
The president of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), Abdoulaye Sylla, welcomed the high voter turnout.
The head of the European Union Observation Mission, Malin Bjork, said voting started on time and was calm in several centres.
“Our partial conclusion of the vote is that it is taking place in a calm and orderly manner,” she told journalists.
The main issues during the campaign were the economy and jobs, as many Senegalese complained about hardships. Human rights and good governance were also key issues.
Mr. Faye campaigned with popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who had been disqualified after being convicted by the court for “misleading” Senegalese youths.
Both men, who are members of the banned Pastef party led by Sonko, are beneficiaries of a recent general amnesty announced by President Sall. They campaigned together with the slogan: "Diomaye is Sonko".
Many observers say the trend of the results favouring the opposition is not surprising given the political and economic situation in the country.
The vote came as Senegal came from the brink following political developments after President Sall's decree postponing the election, originally scheduled for 25 February. The decree led to street protests in which at least three people died.
President Sall had issued the decree postponing the election citing suspicions of corruption concerning some magistrates who examined the applications of 93 people to contest the vote.
Parliament then voted to delay the election until 15 December in a chaotic session during which security forces removed opposition lawmakers. The Constitutional Court's declaration of Parliament's vote unconstitutional calmed the political tension.
Independent human rights experts in a statement last week urged authorities to ensure that political parties, journalists and human rights defenders can exercise their right to freedom of association, assembly and expression during the electoral period.
A UN statement said the Human Rights Council-appointed experts had previously raised concerns with the Government about the prosecution and detention of opposition leaders and their supporters.
They also welcomed the recent release of over 500 detainees, which included Mr. Sonko and Mr. Faye.
The country has seen political turbulence leading to violence, deaths, arrests and detention of opposition figures, all of which benefited the opposition.
The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), deployed 130 Long-term and Short-term observers led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria's former Foreign Minister and United Nations Under-Secretary General, to monitor the electoral processes. They were joined by Short-Term observers.
There were several bodies who observed the election.
President Sall has repeatedly said he would leave office at the end of his mandate on 2 April, saying he has refused "to be tempted by a third term" after being in power for 12 years.
-0- PANA MA 25March2024
