Senegal’s opposition candidate appears to be closing in on victory in the country’s presidential election, an outcome that could take the West African nation in a radical new direction.
Early results show opposition candidate Basil Diomaie Faye in the lead, with several rival candidates publicly admitting defeat.
But his main rival, Amadou Ba, head of the ruling government, dismissed such reports as premature and said he expected a run-off vote to be held to determine the winner. He said that
Fay’s victory could prompt a systemic overhaul of Senegal, including a major overhaul of its relationship with former colonial power France.
Promising fundamental changes to voters, Fay wants Senegal suspended CFA Franc – West Africa’s single currency It is pegged to the euro with financial support from the French Treasury, but critics have derided it as a relic of colonialism.
The 44-year-old also promised to renegotiate huge mining, gas and oil contracts with foreign companies. Senegal is scheduled to begin hydrocarbon production later this year, a development that gives the country hope for future and much-needed wealth.
By contrast, Ba represents a widely criticized government led by President Macky Sall for failing to alleviate economic hardship in one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, which is prone to coups.
United Nations World Food Program 39% of Senegalese say they live in poverty.
Anger against Sall escalated further when he abruptly called off an election to replace him seven weeks ago, but was forced to back down in the face of widespread protests.
“The people are choosing between continuity and rupture,” Fay said Sunday after the vote.
Hours later, as the first results trickled in, hundreds of people gathered at Fay’s campaign headquarters in the capital Dakar, singing and dancing to the beat of drums and vuvuzelas.
Young people on motorbikes rode around the city shouting, “To the (presidential) palace!”
The scenes of jubilation were all the more remarkable because Fay, a senior official in the popular Pastev party led by Ousmane Sonko, had just been released from prison a few days earlier.
Mr. Sonko was disqualified from voting on politically motivated charges, but he enjoys significant support among Senegal’s vast youth.
More than half of the country’s population is under the age of 25, and many share concerns about unemployment and poverty.
The official results of Sunday’s peaceful vote are expected to be announced later this week. Initial results from each polling station, published by local media late Sunday, showed Mr. Fay with a clear lead over Mr. Ba.
To avoid a runoff, one candidate must win an absolute majority.
