Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who clinched victory has pledged to steer the nation with modesty, echoing his commitment to governance marked by humility and transparency.
Addressing reporters on Monday following his triumph in the recent elections, Faye, a newcomer to the political scene, expressed gratitude to the Senegalese populace for their support.
Faye is on track to assume the presidency after his primary rival conceded defeat, commending President Macky Sall and fellow candidates for upholding Senegal’s democratic values by acknowledging his win well before the official results were announced.
“In choosing me, the Senegalese people have opted for a departure from the past,” Faye declared during his inaugural public appearance post-election. “I pledge to lead with humility and transparency.”
Provisional results indicate Faye secured approximately 53.7% of the vote, with Amadou Ba, representing the current ruling coalition, garnering 36.2%, as reported by the electoral commission based on 90% of polling stations’ tallies in the initial round of voting.
Ba and Sall extended congratulations to Faye, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday, hailing the electoral outcome as a triumph for Senegal, whose reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies faced a challenge when Sall postponed the elections.
“The Senegalese people have reaffirmed the robustness of our democracy… I wish him (Faye) success in leading our nation,” Ba remarked.
A smooth transition of power in Senegal would signify a significant boost for democracy in West Africa, a region that has witnessed eight military coups since 2020.