A prominent opposition candidate in Senegal’s presidential race, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who enjoys the backing of the country’s leading opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, leads the field with about 57 percent of preliminary votes, while the official candidate and current prime minister Amadou Ba trails at around 31 percent, according to early results.
As ballot counting for the first round continues, several presidential hopefuls have offered congratulations to Faye. The prime minister, who has headed the slate of the Alliance for the Republic party after twelve years of Macky Sall in power, said he would make statements later tonight.
Khalifa Sall, the former mayor of Dakar and a leading opposition figure, warmly congratulated Faye, noting that the strong trends place Faye at the top of the vote. Sall emphasized that Senegalese voters spoke peacefully and with unyielding commitment to democracy, expressing pride in the country’s political maturity. He also thanked the voters for supporting his own party, speaking from his profile on the social platform X.
Faye represents the Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité, commonly known as PASTEF, a party that has positioned itself as the main challenger to Ba after Sonko could not stand due to a court decision in a controversial case he faced, which was resolved in his favor.
Similar to Sonko, Karim Wade, the son of former president Abdoulaye Wade, had his candidacy rejected in a prior move. Wade’s party, the Senegal Democratic Party, announced on Friday its support for Faye in the presidential race. Wade hailed Faye’s decisive first-round victory and urged voters to recognize that the electorate did not succumb to manipulation aimed at distorting the vote’s integrity. He noted that democracy had prevailed and thanked his own supporters whose votes were crucial. He underscored the need for responsibility as Senegal moves toward renewal and a future of better prospects, urging all to act as architects of the country’s future.
Wade added that this victory is not an end in itself but a first step toward unity, justice, transparency, and equality for the nation. He called for unwavering commitment and hard work to reconcile differences and move forward together.
Anta Babar Ngom, the only woman candidate, remarked that the results show an indisputable victory for Faye, reflecting the will of the Senegalese people. She expressed respect for the democratic decision and wished Faye success in leading Senegal toward prosperity and harmony.
Additionally, candidates Dethie Fall, Papa Djibril Fall, and Mamadou Lamine Diallo joined in congratulating Faye, as indicated on their respective social media channels.
Citations: Reuters and local election coverage attributed Faye’s lead to broad support across demographics, with reactions from opposition and other political actors highlighting the perceived will of the people and a desire for political renewal for the country.