Senegal’s political landscape shifted dramatically on Monday as governing coalition candidate Amadou Ba conceded defeat to opposition rival Bassirou Diomaye Faye after Sunday’s elections. This marks the end of President Macky Sall’s long leadership, which was marred by protests, a delayed election, and a deep political crisis.

In a statement, Ba acknowledged the trends of the election results and congratulated Faye on his victory in the first round. The official results are expected in the coming days, with outgoing President Macky Sall set to step down on 2 April.

Faye’s victory was evident from early predictions, with local media reporting him comfortably ahead of Ba. Opposition supporters took to the streets to celebrate in Ziguinchor, expressing hope for change, economic growth, and job opportunities for the youth under the new leadership.

Faye and his coalition have promised a program of left-wing pan-Africanism, resonating with supporters who celebrated in Dakar into the early hours of Monday, coinciding with Faye’s birthday. The atmosphere was jubilant, with supporters waving Senegalese flags and expressing joy over the triumph of democracy.

The election itself was peaceful, with polling stations operating smoothly and voters exercising their right to choose their leaders. Timbuktu Institute senior fellow Babacar Ndiaye commended the Senegalese citizens for their maturity and democratic culture, hoping that the victory will lead to transparency, good governance, and prosperity for the country.

The new leader will inherit a country facing three years of turbulence and a political crisis, as well as the management of revenues from upcoming oil and gas production. The future of Senegal now rests in the hands of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as he prepares to lead the nation into a new era of governance and development.