UPDATE: Senegal newspapers predict first round victory for opposition leader Faye
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – As Senegalese await official results of Sunday's presidential election from the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), the local media are unanimous about one thing: opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is in pole position for a first round victory.
Various newspapers quoted by the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) say Faye is "well ahead" of his main rival, former Prime Minister, Amadou Ba, who is the candidate of the ruling coalition of President Macky Sall.
"Diomaye Faye on his way to the Palace," wrote L'Info, which noted "a strong mobilization of voters, who voted calmly, despite a few hiccups and clashes".
The newspaper also noted "the tidal wave" of the "Diomaye President" coalition that has swept away all the major communes of the country apart from those of Fouta and Fatick, where President Sall voted.
Une Libération wrote that after the initial trends, "candidates abdicate before Diomaye".
It said candidates Khalifa Sall, Déthié Fall, Mame Boye Diao, Anta Babacar Ngom, Mamadou Lamine Diallo, Daouda Ndiaye, Pape Djibril Fall, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, Thierno Alassane Sall, Malick Gackou, have accepted the victory of Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
"Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 5th president" of Senegal, is the headline of Les Echos, which noted that the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition "contests a victory for Diomaye in the 1st round". Its candidate, former Prime Minister Ba, says he is waiting for "feedback" and promises to "make a decision today (Monday) at noon at the latest".
"Victory in the first round for Diomaye on his birthday," wrote Walf Quotidien which displays on its front page: "Happy birthday Mister president."
"Aged 44, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who celebrates his birthday today (Monday), becomes the youngest President of the Republic and the fifth head of state of Senegal," wrote Walf Quotidien.
According to the newspaper, "the first trends give a large victory to Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He is well ahead of his adversaries in several localities, particularly in high-stakes areas, such as Dakar, Thiès, Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor, making his rivals bite the dust in their respective strongholds".
The early results have triggered wild jubilations in the capital, Dakar.
The official Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported that the "trends" of provisional results at polling stations in Dakar "favour" Mr. Faye, 44, who was only released from prison a few days ago after benefitting from an amnesty granted by outgoing President Macky Sall.
No incidents were officially reported on Sunday.
CENA has yet to release official results and warned against any premature proclamation of the results of the election, stressing that this is "the exclusive responsibility of the authorised bodies".
However, the mood in the camp of the opposition has been jubilant, as supporters waving the national flag have poured into the streets singing, dancing, tooting car horns, blowing vuvuzelas and setting off fireworks in anticipation of a major first round victory for their candidate.
Final provisional results could be out by Tuesday.
Under Senegal's constitution, the winner in the first round should obtain 50% + 1 of the votes. Otherwise, the two frontrunners will go into a run-off.
There were 19 candidates, including a woman, Anta Babacar Ngom, 40, on the ballot. However, APS reported on Saturday that two of them stepped down for Mr. Faye, 44.
Former President Abdoulaye Wade’s Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) also announced last Friday that it was joining Mr. Faye in the election, giving him a big boost.
Mr Ba's campaign has rejected an outright first round victory for Mr. Faye, saying in a statement: “For our part, and 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.”
Interestingly, Mr. Faye's camp has yet to make a comment.
Long queues formed at polling stations across the country on Sunday as an estimated 7.3 million registered voters cast their votes.
The president of CENA, Abdoulaye Sylla, welcomed the high voter turnout.
The head of the European Union Observation Mission, Malin Bjork, said voting started on time and was calm in several centres.
The main issues during the campaign were the economy and jobs, as many Senegalese complained about hardships. Human rights and good governance were also key issues.
Mr. Faye campaigned with popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, following his disqualification after conviction for “misleading” Senegalese youths.
Both men, who are members of the banned Pastef party led by Sonko, are beneficiaries of a recent general amnesty announced by President Sall. They campaigned together with the slogan: "Diomaye is Sonko".
Many observers say the trend of the results favouring the opposition is not surprising given the political and economic situation in the country.
The vote came as Senegal came from the brink following political developments after President Sall's decree postponing the election, originally scheduled for 25 February. The decree led to street protests in which at least three people died.
President Sall had issued the decree postponing the election citing suspicions of corruption concerning some magistrates who examined the applications of 93 people to contest the vote.
Parliament then voted to delay the election until 15 December in a chaotic session during which security forces removed opposition lawmakers. The Constitutional Court's declaration of Parliament's vote unconstitutional calmed the political tension.
Independent human rights experts in a statement last week urged authorities to ensure that political parties, journalists and human rights defenders can exercise their right to freedom of association, assembly and expression during the electoral period.
A UN statement said the Human Rights Council-appointed experts had previously raised concerns with the Government about the prosecution and detention of opposition leaders and their supporters.
They also welcomed the recent release of over 500 detainees, which included Mr. Sonko and Mr. Faye.
The country has seen political turbulence leading to violence, deaths, arrests and detention of opposition figures, all of which benefited the opposition.
The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), deployed 130 Long-term and Short-term observers led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria's former Foreign Minister and United Nations Under-Secretary General, to monitor the electoral processes. They were joined by Short-Term observers.
There were several bodies who observed the election.
President Sall has repeatedly said he would leave office at the end of his mandate on 2 April, saying he has refused "to be tempted by a third term" after being in power for 12 years.
-0- PANA MA 25March2024
