African Union Extols Senegal’s President-elect, Faye

The African Union, on Friday, extolled opposition candidate, Bassirou Faye, on his victory in Senegal’s presidential election.

In a statement written in French Language on the union’s X handle, African Union Commission President, Moussa Faki Mahamat said he “warmly congratulates” Faye on the official declaration of his first-round win, while wishing him “full success in his weighty and noble charge”.

Based on initial results, Faye secured victory in the first round of voting with 54.3 per cent, a substantial lead over the candidate selected by the incumbent Macky Sall, former Prime Minister, Amadou Ba.

The Senegalese Constitutional Court may declare Faye as the official winner before the weekend, potentially allowing for a transition before April 2, which marks the official end of Sall’s tenure.

Faye, aged 44, was released from prison just 10 days prior to the election, along with his mentor Ousmane Sonko, who was disqualified from running due to a criminal conviction he alleges was politically motivated.