Observation missions dispatched to Senegal by the European Union and West Africa’s regional bloc on Tuesday commended the smooth execution of the presidential election, which was won by an anti-establishment opponent following three years of unrest.
The vote, held on Sunday, saw approximately 7.3 million Senegalese citizens eligible to participate. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, aged 44, emerged victorious as the youngest president in the country’s history after his main rival and government candidate, Amadou Ba, conceded defeat.
Ibrahim Gambari, head of the mission deployed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stated at a press conference in Dakar that “voting generally went smoothly and in a largely peaceful atmosphere.” Meanwhile, Malin Bjork, leading the EU mission, praised the election as “well-organised and open,” highlighting the strength of Senegal’s democratic institutions.
Bjork further added, “On the whole, the election was well-organised. Voters were able to make their choice freely in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.”
The observation missions comprised 130 ECOWAS observers and an additional 100 from the EU. Senegal, historically considered a stronghold of stability in coup-prone West Africa, holds a pivotal role within the ECOWAS bloc.
While official provisional results are expected to be published this week, Faye’s opponents in the race and outgoing President Macky Sall have already acknowledged his victory.
The recent unrest in Senegal, which began in 2021, resulted in numerous casualties and arrests, largely stemming from tensions between the government and opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.
Sonko, who endorsed Faye’s candidacy after being barred from the race, played a significant role in the political turmoil.
Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election, initially slated for February 25, triggered Senegal’s most severe political crisis in decades, resulting in four fatalities.
