Senegal Constitutional council confirms Faye as president-elect

Bassirou Diomaye Faye addresses his first press conference after being declared winner of Senegal's presidential election, in Dakar, on March 25, 2024. Final results of the election were released March 29. [Via VOA]

Senegal's Constitutional Council on Friday confirmed anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye as president-elect, releasing final official results giving him a first-round victory of 54.28 percent in the March 24 vote.

The governing coalition's candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, finished with 35.79 percent, and the council's other contenders had raised no objections.

Faye, 44, is due to be sworn in as Senegal's youngest president on Tuesday in the city of Diamniadio, according to the presidency.

The handover of power from outgoing leader Macky Sall is then scheduled at the presidential palace in the capital, Dakar.

Faye's victory is the first time a Senegalese opposition candidate has won the election in the first round since independence in 1960.