Senegal opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was set to be declared the country's next president after his rival from the ruling coalition called him on Monday to concede defeat.

Results trickling in since polls closed on Sunday evening in the first round of a delayed presidential election rapidly suggested Faye, 44, may have clinched an outright majority. The trends announced on local media sparked street celebrations by his supporters in the capital Dakar.

Ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba, 62, initially called these celebrations premature and said a run-off vote would be needed to determine the winner.

But he then called Faye on Monday to offer his congratulations, a government spokesman told journalists. 
 
Ba&nbsp;had&nbsp;stepped down as prime minister to campaign and&nbsp;was backed by Senegal’s outgoing President&nbsp;Macky Sall.

"In light of presidential election result trends and while we await the official proclamation, I congratulate... Faye for his victory in the first round," Ba said in a statement.

A peaceful transition of power in Senegal would mark a boost for democracy in West Africa, where there have been eight military coups since 2020.

Some of the juntas that seized power have cut ties with traditional power-brokers in the region such as France and the United States, and turned instead to Russia for help in their fight against a jihadist insurgency spreading through countries that neighbour Senegal.

Senegal's international bonds rose on reports that Faye was close to being declared a winner, reversing sharp falls from earlier in the day.

Official results are expected to be announced by the Dakar appeals court on Friday. The electoral commission has not yet communicated on the tallies counted so far out of 15,633 voting stations.

Many hope the vote will bring stability and an economic boost to Senegal after three years of unprecedented political turbulence in one of West Africa's only stable democracies, which is set to start producing oil and gas this year.

Senegal opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was set to be declared the country's next president after his rival from the ruling coalition called him on Monday to concede defeat.

Senegal opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was set to be declared the country's next president after his rival from the ruling coalition called him on Monday to concede defeat. Results trickling in since polls closed on Sunday evening in the first round of a delayed presidential election rapidly suggested Faye, 44, may have clinched an outright majority. The trends announced on local media sparked street celebrations by his supporters in the capital Dakar. Ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba, 62, initially called these celebrations premature and said a run-off vote would be needed to determine the winner. But he then called Faye on Monday to offer his congratulations, a government spokesman told journalists. Ba had stepped down as prime minister to campaign and was backed by Senegal’s outgoing President Macky Sall. "In light of presidential election result trends and while we await the official proclamation, I congratulate... Faye for his victory in the first round," Ba said in a statement. A peaceful transition of power in Senegal would mark a boost for democracy in West Africa, where there have been eight military coups since 2020. Some of the juntas that seized power have cut ties with traditional power-brokers in the region such as France and the United States, and turned instead to Russia for help in their fight against a jihadist insurgency spreading through countries that neighbour Senegal. Senegal's international bonds rose on reports that Faye was close to being declared a winner, reversing sharp falls from earlier in the day. Official results are expected to be announced by the Dakar appeals court on Friday. The electoral commission has not yet communicated on the tallies counted so far out of 15,633 voting stations. Many hope the vote will bring stability and an economic boost to Senegal after three years of unprecedented political turbulence in one of West Africa's only stable democracies, which is set to start producing oil and gas this year.

Senegal opposition leader Faye set to become president as ruling coalition candidate concedes

Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading the race in Senegal's presidential election. Several of the 17 candidates have conceded to him, however official results have not yet been announced.

Senegal election results: Opposition's Faye leads race for presidency

Senegal went to polls yesterday with the runup to election day marked by violence and anti-government demonstrations. The outgoing president Macky Sall has wowed to peacefully hand over office to his successor this comes after the country's top Court blocked his attempts to delay the elections for 10 months.

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Senegal is set to go to polls today the delayed yet high-stakes election poses a test for the country's democracy. Voters will elect the fifth president with the runup to election day marked by violence and anti-government demonstrations. The outgoing president Macky Sall has wowed to peacefully hand over office to his successor this comes after the country's top Court blocked his attempts to delay the elections for 10 months.

Senegal heads to polls today

Senegal's fifth presidential polls today

Senegal went to polls today the delayed yet high-stakes election poses a test for the country's democracy. Voters will elect the fifth president with the runup to election day marked by violence and anti-government demonstrations. The outgoing president Macky Sall has wowed to peacefully hand over office to his successor this comes after the country's top Court blocked his attempts to delay the elections for 10 months.

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Senegal votes for its next president

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Senegal to vote in Presidential polls on Sunday. The African nation that is usually known for its stability in an otherwise turbulent region it's now facing a 10th presidential election. The vote originally scheduled for February was delayed by President Saul sparking protests and raising concerns about Democratic backsliding in the country.

Senegal to vote in Presidential polls on Sunday

Will Senegal see fourth democratic transition?

Senegal an African nation that is usually known for its stability in an otherwise turbulent region it's now facing a 10th presidential election. The vote originally scheduled for February was delayed by President Saul sparking protests and raising concerns about Democratic backsliding in the country.

Investors watch Senegal elections

International investors will be closely monitoring the presidential election in senegal, after delays incited widespread protests. The country, usually one of coup-prone west africa's most stable democracies, has been gripped by tension since early february, when president macky sall tried to postpone the vote that had been due to take place on feb. 25 by 10 months, leading to warnings of democratic backsliding.

Senegal polls: Clock ticks as jailed candidates are released

The political turmoil in Senegal began in february when authorities tried to delay the February 25 poll to december, a move sall said was aimed at avoiding electoral disputes, but was perceived by the Opposition as an institutional coup attempt.

Senegal political crisis: Elections on march

Senegal's government has announced that the country's presidential election will take place on 24 March. The announcement of the election date has been welcomed by opposition figures.

Senegal gears up for Presidential polls to be held on 24 March

Senegal's government announces presidential poll on March 24

The postponement of Senegal's elections has provoked one of the most serious political crises to hit the country in decades. Watch in for more details!

Senegal slides into chaos as elections loom

At least 24 people seeking to reach Europe drowned off northern&nbsp;Senegal&nbsp;when their loaded vessel sank, the governor of the Saint Louis region told AFP on Thursday.

Governor Alioune Badara Samb said 24 bodies had been found since Wednesday after the boat got into difficulty in a particularly dangerous part of the northern coast.

The Saint Louis estuary, where the&nbsp;Senegal&nbsp;River meets the Atlantic Ocean, is notorious for its strong currents and areas of thick mud.

Samb did not say how many people were missing from the vessel, which witnesses said could have been carrying more than 300 people.

A number of survivors managed to reach shore and dispersed among locals on the banks, making it difficult to say exactly how many people were involved, he said.

Mamady Dianfo, a survivor from Casamance in the south, told AFP there were more than 300 people on board when the boat left&nbsp;Senegal&nbsp;a week ago.

Another survivor, Alpha Balde, estimated there were more than 200 passengers.

Dianfo said the vessel reached Morocco, further north up the coast but the captain then said he was lost and could no longer continue the journey.&nbsp;

"We asked him to take us back to&nbsp;Senegal," he said.

Senegal's coast is an increasingly common departure point for Africans fleeing poverty and unemployment and heading to the Canary Islands, their port of entry into Europe.

European Union border agency Frontex says&nbsp;Senegal&nbsp;and Morocco are the most common countries of origin for migrants arriving on the Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic.

Of the more than 6,600 migrants who died or went missing trying to reach Spain last year, the vast majority were lost on the treacherous Atlantic route, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.

At least 24 people seeking to reach Europe drowned off northern Senegal when their loaded vessel sank, the governor of the Saint Louis region told AFP on Thursday.

At least 24 people seeking to reach Europe drowned off northern Senegal when their loaded vessel sank, the governor of the Saint Louis region told AFP on Thursday. Governor Alioune Badara Samb said 24 bodies had been found since Wednesday after the boat got into difficulty in a particularly dangerous part of the northern coast. The Saint Louis estuary, where the Senegal River meets the Atlantic Ocean, is notorious for its strong currents and areas of thick mud. Samb did not say how many people were missing from the vessel, which witnesses said could have been carrying more than 300 people. A number of survivors managed to reach shore and dispersed among locals on the banks, making it difficult to say exactly how many people were involved, he said. Mamady Dianfo, a survivor from Casamance in the south, told AFP there were more than 300 people on board when the boat left Senegal a week ago. Another survivor, Alpha Balde, estimated there were more than 200 passengers. Dianfo said the vessel reached Morocco, further north up the coast but the captain then said he was lost and could no longer continue the journey. "We asked him to take us back to Senegal," he said. Senegal's coast is an increasingly common departure point for Africans fleeing poverty and unemployment and heading to the Canary Islands, their port of entry into Europe. European Union border agency Frontex says Senegal and Morocco are the most common countries of origin for migrants arriving on the Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic. Of the more than 6,600 migrants who died or went missing trying to reach Spain last year, the vast majority were lost on the treacherous Atlantic route, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.

At least 24 dead in migrant shipwreck off Senegal

In a historic decision on the 15th of February, Senegal's constitutional council overturned the postponement of this month's presidential election. The landmark decision opens up a realm of uncertainty for the traditionally stable West African nation. President Mackay Sall's decision earlier this month to postpone the election scheduled for 25th February had sparked widespread outcry and prompted deadly protests. Reportedly, At least three young men were killed during protests and at least 266 people were arrested across the country, including journalists.

Senegal: Deadly protests prompted by President election postponement

Russia's Nuclear Anti-Satellite weapon sparks a scare in US amidst Ukraine War Tensions flare up at the border between Armenia & Azerbaijan United States rocked by yet another incident of mass shooting in Kansas & Senegal turns into a warzone as protesters run rampage through the streets over delay of elections Mohammed Saleh gets you an in-depth analysis of the world's biggest warzones of the week in #WorldAtWar

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Senegal's standing as a stable democracy in a volatile area. It is in jeopardy after lawmakers passed a controversial bill. To extend President Macky Sall's tenure and delay the elections further. Protests broke out after President Sall called off the election just three weeks before the due date.

US urges Senegalese President to restore electoral calendar | Race To Power

Senegal is on the verge of an election crisis. West Africa’s main economic and political bloc ECOWAS has sent a diplomatic mission to Senegal to discuss the political situation there following a delay in its presidential election. Senegal appears to be having an identity crisis - its citizens are proud of the fact that it is considered one of west Africa's most stable democracies, and many are outraged that this reputation is now on the line. So what's going on in a nation once considered a bastion of democracy in West Africa?

Senegal suspends mobile internet ahead of planned march over vote delay

The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat.

The announcement of the delay just three weeks ahead of the planned February&nbsp;25 vote triggered violent clashes on Friday between protesters and police in Dakar and several other cities, in a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability.

WATCH |&nbsp;Senegal: Protests, stone pelting reported in Dakar for postponement of elections

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President Macky Sall has said the delay is necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the poll, but some opposition lawmakers have denounced the move as an "institutional coup."

As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing.

The death of one young man amid reported protests in the southern city of Zinguinchor on Saturday evening took the number of those killed since Friday to three, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties.

"We tried to save him when he arrived at hospital and unfortunately he died in intensive care," Ndiame Diop, the manager of Ziguinchor hospital, told Reuters, saying it was not possible to determine the exact cause of death without an autopsy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senegals-former-pm-aminata-toure-arrested-as-police-and-protesters-clash-over-indefinite-election-delay-686964">Senegal’s former PM Aminata Toure arrested as police and protesters clash over indefinite election delay</a>

A spokesperson for the interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS.

The US&nbsp;Bureau of African Affairs said in an online post on Saturday that it was saddened to learn of the first two deaths.

"We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said.

What happens next is not clear.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-in-senegal-after-opposition-leader-ousmane-sonko-was-charged-and-detained-621165">Clashes erupt in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko charged and detained</a>

Opposition lawmakers and presidential candidates who reject the postponement have filed legal challenges and said they will refuse to recognise Sall as president after his original mandate expires in early April.

The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for December 15.&nbsp;

"If President Macky Sall does not restore power to us on April 3, we will set up a parallel government of national unity," opposition lawmaker Guy Marius Sagna said on the radio on Sunday.

The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat.

The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential elections until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat. The announcement of the delay just three weeks ahead of the planned February 25 vote triggered violent clashes on Friday between protesters and police in Dakar and several other cities, in a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability. WATCH | Senegal: Protests, stone pelting reported in Dakar for postponement of elections President Macky Sall has said the delay is necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the poll, but some opposition lawmakers have denounced the move as an "institutional coup." As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing. The death of one young man amid reported protests in the southern city of Zinguinchor on Saturday evening took the number of those killed since Friday to three, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties. "We tried to save him when he arrived at hospital and unfortunately he died in intensive care," Ndiame Diop, the manager of Ziguinchor hospital, told Reuters, saying it was not possible to determine the exact cause of death without an autopsy. ALSO READ | Senegal’s former PM Aminata Toure arrested as police and protesters clash over indefinite election delay A spokesperson for the interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS. The US Bureau of African Affairs said in an online post on Saturday that it was saddened to learn of the first two deaths. "We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said. What happens next is not clear. ALSO READ | Clashes erupt in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko charged and detained Opposition lawmakers and presidential candidates who reject the postponement have filed legal challenges and said they will refuse to recognise Sall as president after his original mandate expires in early April. The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for December 15. "If President Macky Sall does not restore power to us on April 3, we will set up a parallel government of national unity," opposition lawmaker Guy Marius Sagna said on the radio on Sunday.

Senegal unrest: Three dead amid protests over delayed presidential elections

Senegal is facing a crisis, constitutionally. Senegal’s parliament voted to delay the West African nation’s presidential election until December 15th in a chaotic voting process that took place after opposition lawmakers were forcefully removed from the chambers as they debated president Macky Sall's earlier decision to delay the crucial election. Clashes between security forces & protesters continue. Watch to know more!

Senegal battles first major wave of unrest over vote delay

Senegal is facing a crisis, constitutionally. Senegal’s parliament voted to delay the West African nation’s presidential election until December 15th in a chaotic voting process that took place after opposition lawmakers were forcefully removed from the chambers as they debated president Macky Sall's earlier decision to delay the crucial election. Security forces stormed the legislative building and forcefully removed several opposition lawmakers who were trying to block the voting process on the unprecedented delay of the presidential election initially scheduled for Feb 25. The adopted bill extends Sall’s tenure — which was due to end on April 2 — until a new election.

Tensions in Senegal as president & parliament delay polls

Senegal's parliament voted to postpone a presidential election from Feb. 25 to Dec. 15. It extended President Macky Sall's mandate in an unprecedented break with the country's democratic tradition. Watch this video for all details.

Senegal politcal crisis: What is happening in Senegal and could tensions escalate?

Tensions are high in Senegal after angry citizens turned to the streets to express their anger against the postponed polls. On Saturday, President Macky Sall announced an indefinite delay of Elections. Watch to know more!

Senegal: Internet suspended by authorities as public outcry continues

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley addressed her supporters on Monday and said the Border deal being mulled over in the Senate is lacking in some areas and blamed former president Donald Trump for asking Congress to stop the bills until after the election. Watch to know more!

US Elections 2024: Haley rakes up border deal, challenges Trump for debate

Tensions are high in Senegal after angry citizens turned to the streets to express their anger against the postponed polls. On Saturday President Macky Sall announced an indefinite delay of Elections that would due to take place on February 25th. Watch to know more!

Senegal: Clashes between protesters & police officials | Elections postponed in Senegal

Senegal: Protests, stone pelting reported in Dakar for postponement of elections

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