Bassirou Diomaye Faye won Senegal’s presidential election on Sunday outright, avoiding a run-off vote in a stunning victory for the political newcomer. Faye was released from jail just a few weeks ago and served as a stand-in for popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was banned from running in the election. (AP)
Our Take
The big question in Senegal over the past two months has been whether the country’s democracy—historically one of Africa’s most stable—would prove resilient amid a political crisis over outgoing President Macky Sall’s attempt to delay the presidential election. With Sall congratulating Faye on his victory, that question appears to have been answered.
Now, the big unknown is whether the young and inexperienced Faye can translate his popular support, which comes thanks to his role as a proxy for Sonko, into action. Domestically, Faye has vowed to fight corruption and increase economic opportunities for Senegal’s increasingly disaffected youth.