Opposition candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a political newcomer popular among the country’s youth, is set to be declared the next president of Senegal after winning the presidential elections.
Faye’s main rival, Amadou Ba, called him on Monday to concede defeat.
According to Reuters, provisional results showed Faye with about 53.7% and Amadou Ba – from the current ruling coalition – with 36.2% based on tallies from 90% of polling stations in the first-round vote, the electoral commission said.
Barring any runoff, Faye, who turned 44 on Monday, is set to become Africa’s youngest President.
Ba and incumbent President Macky Sall both congratulated Faye, and hailed the outcome as a win for Senegal, whose reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies took a hit when Sall postponed the vote.
“The Senegalese people have reinforced the good health of our democracy.. I wish him (Faye) success at the head of our country,” Ba said.
Faye’s campaign focused on fighting poverty, injustice and corruption in the West African nation.
