Dakar, Senegal – Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye has emerged as the frontrunner in Senegal’s presidential election, local media reports. Despite several candidates conceding to him, the official results have yet to be announced.

Millions of citizens participated in a peaceful vote following three years of unrest and opposition protests against the incumbent, Macky Sall. The ruling coalition’s candidate, Amadou Ba, has not accepted defeat and anticipates a potential run-off vote if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.

Faye, a 44-year-old senior official in the Pastef party led by Ousmane Sonko, was recently released from jail prior to the election. His victory in the initial tallies sparked celebrations in the capital, Dakar, with supporters gathering to cheer him on.

As news of Faye’s lead spread, five opposition candidates acknowledged his success. Even the only female candidate, Anta Babacar Ngom, expressed support for Faye’s campaign.

The results continue to be tallied by local media, with the final outcome expected by Tuesday. Faye’s alliance with Sonko under the “Diomaye is Sonko” banner has garnered support from various high-profile politicians and opposition figures.

“The population is choosing between continuation and rupture,” Faye remarked after casting his vote, emphasizing the importance of accepting the election results. Sall, the incumbent, did not seek re-election for the first time in the country’s history. His coalition chose Ba, a former prime minister, as their candidate.

Ba’s campaign remains confident in their chances, indicating a potential run-off may be necessary based on their analysis of the results. Approximately 7.3 million voters were registered for the election, out of a population of around 18 million.

The election, initially scheduled for last month, was delayed by Sall, prompting violent protests from the opposition. Despite the delays and challenges, Senegal is now poised for a new chapter as the election results are awaited eagerly by the nation.