Senegal opposition's Faye leads early presidential election results
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[March 25, 2024]
DAKAR (Reuters) - Early results in Senegal's presidential polls
suggested opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye may have clinched
an outright majority, though his rival in the ruling coalition said a
run-off vote would be needed to determine the winner. |
![](../images/032524PIX/news_e6.jpg)
Presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is backed by
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, walks with one of his wives
after casting his vote at the polling station at Ndiaganiao in Mbour,
Senegal March 24, 2024. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/ File Photo |
Opposition supporters celebrated in the streets of the capital
Dakar on Sunday after local media channels started announcing
polling station tallies that put Faye, 44, comfortably ahead of
his main rival, Amadou Ba.
Several other opposition contenders in Sunday's election
conceded defeat to Faye during the night.
Official results are expected to be announced by the Dakar
appeals court on Friday.
Many hope the delayed vote will bring stability and an economic
boost to the West African nation after three years of
unprecedented political turbulence.
Ba is the candidate backed by outgoing President Macky Sall, who
is stepping down amid a drop in popularity after two terms in
office marred by economic hardship and violent anti-government
protests.
Ba said in a statement late on Sunday that celebrations of
Faye's victory were premature and that official results would
show a second round of voting was needed.
(Reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Sofia Christensen; editing
by Silvia Aloisi and Bernadette Baum)
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