{"id":24956,"date":"2024-03-25T07:19:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T11:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/senegal-election-results-oppositions-bassirou-diomaye-faye-leads-race-for-presidency\/25\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-25T07:19:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T11:19:42","slug":"senegal-election-results-oppositions-bassirou-diomaye-faye-leads-race-for-presidency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/senegal-election-results-oppositions-bassirou-diomaye-faye-leads-race-for-presidency\/25\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Senegal election results: Opposition’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye leads race for presidency"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading the race in Senegal’s presidential election, according to local media.<\/p>\n

Several of the 17 candidates have conceded to him, however official results have not yet been announced.<\/p>\n

Millions took part in a peaceful vote on Sunday, following three years of turbulence and opposition protests against the incumbent, Macky Sall<\/a><\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The ruling coalition’s choice, Amadou Ba, has denied that he has lost.<\/p>\n

He said he expected to contest a run-off vote to decide a winner. This would be required if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.<\/p>\n

Mr Faye, 44, a senior official in the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko<\/a><\/span><\/span>, had been in jail until 10 days before the vote. Mr Sonko was disqualified from the race because of a defamation conviction, which he said was politically motivated.<\/p>\n

The first set of tallies announced on television showed Mr Faye had won the majority of votes, triggering widespread street celebrations in the capital, Dakar.<\/p>\n

Supporters set off fireworks, waved Senegalese flags and blew vuvuzelas.<\/p>\n

The results led to five opposition candidates declaring Mr Faye the winner. Anta Babacar Ngom, the only female candidate, wished Mr Faye success in a statement.<\/p>\n

Mr Faye has not yet commented.<\/p>\n

The results being announced are from local media tallying the results posted outside individual polling stations.<\/p>\n

It is not clear how many of the 15,633 polling stations have been counted so far. Official results are expected by Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Mr Sonko backed Mr Faye, the co-creator of his now dissolved Pastef party, who was also detained almost a year ago on charges including defamation and contempt of court.<\/p>\n

An amnesty law passed this month allowed their release days before the vote.<\/p>\n

They have campaigned together under the banner “Diomaye is Sonko”. Some high-profile politicians and opposition candidates have backed Mr Faye’s candidacy.<\/p>\n

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

Prepare for run-off<\/h3>\n

Mr Sall, the incumbent, was not on the ballot for the first time in Senegal’s history. His ruling coalition picked Mr Ba, 62, a former prime minister.<\/p>\n

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”.<\/p>\n

About 7.3 million people were registered to vote in the country of around 18 million.<\/p>\n

The election had been due to take place last month but Mr Sall postponed it, triggering deadly opposition protests.<\/p>\n

More on Senegal’s election:<\/h3>\n

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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading the race in Senegal’s presidential election, according to local media. Several of the 17 candidates