From Prison to Palace: 44-Year-Old Opposition Candidate Diomaye Faye set to become Senegal’s new President after Election Victory

Senegal opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a political newcomer popular among the country’s youth, is set to be declared the next president after his main rival called him on Monday to concede defeat.

Provisional results showed Faye leading with about 53.7% of the votes, with his opponent, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba – from the ruling party having 36.2% of the votes.

The tally was based on results from 90% of polling stations in the first-round vote held on Sunday.

Incumbent President Macky Sall, who initially postponed the election which caused a nationwide crisis, also congratulated Faye, describing the outcome as a win for Senegal.

“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.

“The Senegalese people have reinforced the good health of our democracy.. I wish him success at the head of our country”.

The election victory for Diomaye Faye still has to be confirmed by a top Senegalese court on Friday.

It however represents a remarkable turnaround for Faye who was released from prison just 10 days before the election. He spent over eleven months in prison for a Facebook post that authorities deemed subversive.

Now he has gone from political prisoner to the next President of Senegal. He is yet to hold a nationally elected office, but was a tax inspector earlier on in his career.

Faye, who is celebrating his 44th birthday today (Monday), is yet to issue a statement or make a comment on his impending election victory.