Senegal polls: Sonko’s protégé Bassirou Diomaye in early lead

In Dakar, supporters of presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye wasted no time in celebrating late Sunday (Mar. 23) before official results were announced.

In the capital city, hundreds of thousands took to the streets based solely on early indications of their candidate’s success. Backers of Ousmane Sonko’s protégé gathered at the headquarters of the Diomaye president coalition to rejoice in what they saw as a victory for the people of Senegal.

As the country awaited official results, some candidates had already conceded defeat and congratulated Diomaye Faye. Despite tensions during vote counting, hopes for a run-off vote remained high among supporters of Amadou Bou, a candidate from the ruling party.

Former Prime Minister and Economy Minister Ba announced he would assess the election results by midday on Monday (Mar. 25), with calls from opposition parties urging him to recognize Diomaye’s win.

From the headquarters of the ‘Diomaye president’ coalition to strongholds of the opposition like Ziguinchor, supporters gathered to celebrate what they believed was a clear victory. The state of the economy, exacerbated by high food and energy prices, was a top concern for many Senegalese voters, with youth unemployment and the search for better opportunities driving thousands to seek jobs abroad.