What to know about Senegal’s wide-open elections
Washington PostMar 29
Senegal: Ruling Coalition Concedes Defeat
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The Facts
Senegal's ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba has conceded defeat in the presidential election, calling opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Monday as early results trends indicate he clinched an outright majority to win in the first round of voting.
This comes as several contenders had already congratulated Faye on his claimed victory after the initial count. Previously, Ba's campaign stated that opposition celebrations were premature and that a run-off vote would be needed "in the worst case scenario."
The Spin
Narrative A
That the Senegalese people were allowed to elect an opposition leader who was imprisoned just days before the election is an impressive surprise, especially after all attempts from Sall to cling to power beyond his constitutional term — including postponing the vote. His victory is also a triumph for the country and its democratic system.
Narrative B
Despite the opposition spreading baseless allegations of potential electoral fraud in favor of the ruling coalition, Senegal has demonstrated once again that it remains one of the most stable countries in West Africa. Millions went to the polls peacefully, further indicating the maturity of both the Senegalese people and democracy.
