It appears highly likely that Senegal’s non-traditional candidate will secure the presidency following a remarkable win in the election, which is expected to lead the country in a significantly different direction.
Just over a week following his release from incarceration, Bassirou Diomaye Faye is highly likely to win the upcoming presidential election in the country. This comes after his primary opponent surprisingly contacted him on Monday to acknowledge his loss.
Most experts had predicted that the election would result in a closely fought second round runoff between Faye and Amadou Ba, who was the candidate of the incumbent government.
Faye’s apparent success in obtaining over 50% of the vote, despite facing competition from 18 other candidates, highlights the strong desire of the Senegalese for the significant change in political direction that he symbolizes.
This is also a strong stance against Macky Sall, the current president who has held office for 12 years and is leaving with his country still struggling with poverty and a high percentage of unemployed youth.
Following a calm election on Sunday, Ba showed determination on Monday by stating that he believed a re-vote between him and Faye would determine the winner.
But as the afternoon progressed and more and more candidates offered their congratulations to Faye as the winner, Ba quickly admitted defeat – even though the final, official results were not anticipated until Friday.
Ba congratulated Faye for his victory in the first round, citing the current trend of presidential election results.
The news of his retreat sparked widespread festivities among Faye’s loyal followers in Dakar, the capital city.
In a broader sense, the peaceful transfer of power in Senegal is a significant achievement for democracy in West Africa, a region that has experienced eight military coups since 2020.
Despite this, the election in Senegal was in danger of not occurring when Sall unexpectedly cancelled it last month. However, he later reversed his decision when met with strong opposition.
Faye’s victory is expected to lead to major transformations in Senegal, potentially resulting in a complete restructuring of its ties with its ex-colonizer, France.
Faye is proposing a presidential plan of leftist pan-Africanism for Senegal that includes ending the use of the CFA franc. This is the single currency used in West Africa, tied to the euro and financially supported by the French Treasury, that many criticize as a symbol of colonialism.
The 44-year-old candidate, who could potentially become the youngest president of Senegal, has made a pledge to reexamine the extensive mining, gas, and oil agreements made with international corporations. This year, Senegal is set to begin producing hydrocarbons, which has raised expectations for potential prosperity in the country.
On the other hand, investors are cautious about a potential shift to a non-traditional government that may not implement the same pro-business strategies as the current administration led by Sall, which have enticed investments in infrastructure.
Sall’s strategies, embodied by Ba as the election’s candidate, were unsuccessful in alleviating economic difficulties in a relatively stable West African democracy.
The United Nations’ world food program reports that 39% of the population in Senegal is living below the poverty line.
Ousmane Sonko, the leader of the Pastef party and a senior official in which Faye belongs, will likely receive a large portion of the recognition for Faye’s triumph.
Two ex-tax inspectors have joined forces using the catchphrase “Diomaye is Sonko”. They pledge to combat corruption, promote fair distribution of wealth, and prioritize the nation’s economic well-being.
Faye, along with Sonko, was granted release from prison just 10 days before the election through a hastily approved amnesty legislation.
Due to potential political bias, Sonko was excluded from the election, but still maintains a significant support base among Senegal’s sizable youth demographic.
More than half of the citizens in the country are under the age of 25, and many have expressed worries about problems with joblessness and poverty.
Source: theguardian.com
