Senegalese voters on March 24, 2024, went to the polls to elect a new president to succeed President Macky Sall, who has served the constitutional two terms in office. The elections were scheduled for Feb. 25 but were postponed three weeks earlier by Sall in a controversial decision that cited irregularities with the court’s approved candidates. The decision to postpone the elections sparked a month of tension and some violence in Senegal, after which Sall reversed course on March 6, scheduling the polls for the current date.
At the polls, voters had to choose between Amadou Ba, 62, who served as prime minister in Sall’s cabinet, running under Alliance for the Republic. Other candidates are the two other former prime ministers; Idrissa Seck and Mahammed Dionne. Both are 64 years old. Khalifa Sall, a 68-year-old former mayor of Senegal’s capital city Dakar; ( he bears no relation to the president). Anta Babacar Ngom, a 40-year-old entrepreneur, the only woman on the ballot, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, candidate of the party formed by opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.
A former tax chief and critic of Sall, Sonko contested the 2019 elections. He was charged and jailed last year by the government for allegedly stirring insurrection; he and Faye were released from prison this month as part of an amnesty Sall proposed in February.
Faye Wins The Elections
As votes collation started, it became apparent that Faye was on course to win the election, his closest rival, Amadou Ba; prime minister under Macky Sall called him to concede defeat. This was followed by President Sall’s call to congratulate and name him the winner. From the provisional results released by the electoral commission, Faye secured approximately 53.7% of the vote, while Amadou Ba, representing the current ruling coalition, garnered 36.2%. These tallies were derived from 90% of the polling stations in the first-round vote.
Faye’s victory highlights the discontent among the youth, driven by soaring unemployment rates and worries regarding governance in the West African country. In his acceptance address as president-elect on Monday night, the former tax inspector vowed to usher in a new era after months of unrest, marked by widespread violence and numerous political detentions preceding the election.
“I commit to leading with humility and transparency, and to combating corruption across all sectors. I pledge my full dedication to the reconstruction of our institutions,” he affirmed, reiterating the promises made throughout his election campaign.
Who Is Bassirou Diomaye Faye?
Faye is a political newbie. A former tax collector, he rose to prominence when Sonko anointed him as his successor. Together, they campaigned under the banner “Diomaye is Sonko,” pledging to combat corruption and prioritize the nation’s economic welfare. This resonated with young voters in a country where over 60% of the population is under 25 and faces significant challenges in securing employment. Faye is committed to allocating more state resources to support the youth.
In April 2023, Faye faced charges, including contempt of court, for publicly criticizing the judiciary in cases involving Sonko. Sonko himself would later join Faye in prison in July on charges related to inciting insurrection, amid a wave of arrests targeting opposition members since 2021, sparked by Sonko’s confrontation with the state.
The ensuing turmoil influenced outgoing President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the elections, plunging the nation into its most significant political crisis in decades. However, just ten days before the elections were held, Faye and Sonko were released amidst jubilant celebrations in the capital, following the president’s announcement of a political amnesty.
Upon their release on March 14, the allies embarked on a frenetic campaign tour, greeted by enthusiastic crowds chanting “Sonko mooy Diomaye, Diomaye mooy Sonko” (Sonko is Diomaye, Diomaye is Sonko). Throughout the campaign, Faye, who lacked prior experience, promised profound change and espoused left-wing pan-Africanism, positioning himself as part of a new generation of politicians advocating for national sovereignty, equitable wealth distribution, and judicial reform to combat corruption.
Now as president-elect, Faye pledges to renegotiate oil and fishing contracts and expresses willingness to introduce a new national currency to replace the CFA franc, a move opposed by his opponent for the presidency, Amadou Ba.