Opposition supporters take to streets in celebration however ruling coalition says a run-off might be wanted to find out the winner.
Supporters of Senegal’s presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye have taken to the streets of the capital, Dakar, in celebration as early outcomes from Sunday’s vote confirmed the opposition contender within the lead.
The celebrations got here as no less than 5 of the 19 candidates within the race issued statements congratulating Faye on what they referred to as his victory.
However his most important rival from the ruling coalition, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, stated the celebrations had been untimely.
“For our half, and contemplating the suggestions of the outcomes from our group of specialists, we’re sure that, within the worst case state of affairs, we’ll go to a run-off,” Ba’s marketing campaign stated in a press release.
There was no speedy remark from Faye.
Tens of millions in Senegal happened in Sunday’s vote to elect the nation’s fifth president. It adopted three years of unprecedented political turbulence that sparked violent antigovernment protests and buoyed assist for the opposition.
At stake is the potential finish of an administration led by outgoing President Macky Sall, who’s stepping down after a second time period marred by unrest over the prosecution of opposition chief Ousmane Sonko and considerations that the president needed to increase his mandate previous the constitutional restrict.
The incumbent was not on the poll for the primary time in Senegal’s historical past. His ruling coalition picked 62-year-old Ba as its candidate.
Sonko, in jail till lately, was disqualified from the race due to a defamation conviction. He’s backing Faye, the co-creator of his now-dissolved PASTEF social gathering, who was additionally detained nearly a 12 months in the past on prices together with defamation and contempt of courtroom.
An amnesty regulation handed this month allowed their launch days earlier than the vote.
He and his colleague Diomaye have campaigned collectively beneath the banner “Diomaye is Sonko”.
About 7.3 million folks had been registered to vote within the nation of roughly 18 million. Turnout was at about 71 %, in line with state tv RTS.
Election day ran easily with no main incidents reported.
The primary set of tallies introduced on tv confirmed Faye had gained the vast majority of votes.
Jubilant crowds gathered in Sonko’s neighbourhood in Dakar, with supporters setting off fireworks, waving Senegalese flags and blowing vuvuzelas.
“That is actually an uncommon election,” stated Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from outdoors Sonko’s house. “Individuals are celebrating outdoors the house of a politician who shouldn’t be even within the operating – Ousmane Sonko. For the folks right here, the truth that this election even happened is a cause to have fun. There was a lot pent-up emotion being launched. On these streets simply weeks in the past, there have been riots, demonstrators protesting for this election to happen.”
He added: “Nobody has claimed victory. The counting continues to be beneath manner, however there are some notable candidates who’ve all congratulated Faye.”
They included one of many most important contenders, Anta Babacar Ngom, who wished Faye success as chief of Senegal in a press release.
“Congratulations to Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his unquestionable victory,” she stated on X.
It was not clear how lots of the 15,633 polling stations have been counted thus far.
Ultimate provisional outcomes are anticipated by Tuesday. A second spherical of voting will solely happen if no candidate secures the greater than 50 % majority required to stop a run-off.
