Supporters of opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye have taken to the streets to celebrate his early victories in Senegal’s presidential election, just a week after his release from prison.
Faye’s main rival, from the ruling coalition, former prime minister, Amadou Ba has suggested that a second round of voting will be necessary to determine the winner, as official results are not expected before the end of the week.
Faye has promised voters profound change and a left-wing pan-African presidential program, positioning himself as a candidate for a systemic overhaul in Senegal.
The election, viewed as a beacon of democracy in West Africa, comes after three years of turbulence and a political crisis, with the winner tasked with managing revenues from oil and gas reserves set to start production soon.