Senegal’s opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye has emerged as the winner of Sunday’s election with 54.28% of the total votes, according to official provisional results released by the electoral commission on Wednesday.
Presidential candidates have until the end of Thursday to file appeals challenging Mr Faye’s win, failure to which the Constitutional Council will confirm him as the president-elect.
Mr Faye’s main challenger, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba of the ruling coalition, secured 35.79% of total votes.
The election recorded a voter turnout of 61%.
Mr Ba, along with several of the other 15 presidential contestants, have already conceded and congratulated Mr Faye. It is considered unlikely that they will appeal against the results.
Outgoing President Macky Sall had attempted to delay the polls initially scheduled for February, which sparked violent protests and resulted in three deaths.
Mr Faye has said he will rule Senegal with humility and fight corruption.
He has also promised to put measures in place to address youth unemployment and the high cost of living.
Expectations remain high for Africa’s youngest democratically elected president.
