Senegal's Constitutional Council validates Faye's first round victory
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Senegal's Constitutional Council on Friday published the final official results of the 24 March presidential election validating the victory of opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the first round with 54.28% of the votes.
This comes after none of the 18 other candidates appealed against the results as declared by the National Votes Census Commission by the deadline of midnight on Thursday, 28 March.
The validation of the results paves the way for the inauguration of Faye, 44, on Tuesday, 2 April as fifth and youngest president of the West African country.
Former Prime Minister and the outgoing government's candidate, Amadou Ba, 62, came a distant second with 35.79%. Aliou Mamadou Dia of the Unity and Rally Party (PUR), came third with 2.80%.
Turnout was 61.30%.
The Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported that Faye would be sworn in at the Centre International de Conférences Abdou Diouf (CICAD-Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre) in Diamniadio, some 30 kilometres from the capital, Dakar.
This would be followed by a handover of power by outgoing President Macky Sall at the Palais de la République.
The local press reports that several foreign heads of state and dignitaries would be attending the inauguration ceremony.
Last Thursday, outgoing President Sall received in-coming President Faye, with their discussions focusing on the transfer of power.
The Senegalese presidency said in a post on X social media platform that "the two men discussed major state issues and the oath-taking and transfer of power ceremony".
APS reported that Ousmane Sonko, leader of the dissolved African Patriots of Senegal for Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), of which Faye is a member, took part in the hearing. Both men benefitted from an amnesty granted by the outgoing government a few days to the election that saw the release of over 500 detainees.
The vote came as Senegal came from the brink following political developments after President Sall issued a decree postponing the election, originally scheduled for 25 February. The decree led to street protests in which at least three people died.
President Sall issued the decree postponing the election citing suspicions of corruption concerning some magistrates who examined the applications of 93 people to contest the election.
Parliament then voted to delay the poll 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 urged the 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.
The country has seen political turbulence leading to violence, deaths, arrests and detention of opposition figures, all of which benefited the opposition.
President Sall repeatedly said he would leave office at the end of his mandate on 2 April, saying he refused "to be tempted by a third term" after being in power for 12 years.
-0- PANA MA 30March2024
