Senegal’s Constitutional Council confirms Faye as president-elect

Senegal’s Constitutional Council on Friday confirmed anti-establishment candidate Basilou Diomaye Faye as president-elect and released final official results that gave him a first-round victory of 54.28 percent in the March 24 vote.

The candidate of the ruling coalition, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, received 35.79% support, and there were no objections from other contenders on the committee.

Faye, 44, will be sworn in on Tuesday in the city of Diamniadio, becoming Senegal’s youngest president, according to the presidential palace.

Subsequently, the transfer of power from outgoing leader Macky Sall is planned to be held at the presidential palace in the capital Dakar.

Faye’s victory is the first time a Senegalese opposition candidate has won in the first round of elections since independence in 1960.