Opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye takes early lead in Senegal presidential race

Opposition candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, casting his vote.
Photo credit: AP

Reports from Senegal indicate that a major upset may be unfolding as opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading in Senegal’s presidential election, after several rivals conceded following initial vote counts.

Supporters of Faye celebrated across the country’s capital, Dakar, as early results from Sunday’s vote showed him in the lead.

Projections of his possible victory were inspired by news that at least five of the 17 candidates in the race issued statements congratulating him on what they called his victory.

However, the ruling coalition’s candidate, Amadou Ba, 62, a former prime minister, rejected reports of defeat and said he expected to contest a run-off vote to decide a winner. Mr Ba’s campaign said that “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”.

The first set of tallies announced on television showed Mr Faye had won the majority of votes counted, although it is not clear how many of the 15,633 polling stations have been counted so far. Final provisional results are expected by Tuesday.

Faye’s victory, if confirmed, sets the stage for what many commentators say would be the greatest political upset in the country’s history as it may mark the establishment of a new paradigm in relations between Senegal and its former colonial power, France.

Faye shares same ideological leanings as Ousman Sonko, the firebrand opposition leader whose conviction disqualified him from contesting the elections, and the duo has introduced itself as an anti-establishment force wanting a radical shift from the previous government.

It is evident that the support of Sonko was the major force that propelled Faye’s popularity.

Dissolved by the Senegalese authorities, the Pastef party, led by Faye and Sonko, both of whom had been in detention until an amnesty law passed this month allowed their release, launched a unique campaign under the banner “Diomaye is Sonko”.

Faye is expected to implement Sonko’s promised radical reform programmes, which include the establishment of a new national currency and the renegotiation of the country’s mining and energy contracts between the government and private conglomerates.

Sonko has also insisted that a review of Senegal’s relations with former colonial power France, whose economic interests in the country are perceived by some in the opposition as a form of neo-colonialism, is necessary.

However, analysts warn that this tone will likely soften should Faye reach power. Al Jazeera reported Gilles Yabi, founder and president of WATHI, a think tank, as saying that “their radical discourse will likely change significantly if they get in power as they will have to compromise with actors who will be key for them to govern.”

“The population is choosing between continuation and rupture,” Mr. Faye said after casting his vote, urging contenders to accept the winner.