Bassirou Diomaye Faye has emerged as the likely successor to President Macky Sall, according to initial results from the most accurate statisticians in the Senegalese media, at Radio Futurs Medias. Faye has garnered an impressive lead of over 55%, with Amadou Ba trailing behind at more than 30%.

The election day, March 24th, was marked by a sense of joy and relief, contrasting the tense atmosphere of earlier days. The possibility of a different outcome, such as a victory for Amadou Ba in the first or second round, seemed likely. However, given the context, a candidate from Ousmane Sonko’s camp would likely have won the election, and with ease.

Diomaye Faye was the choice of the people, as reflected in the voter turnout. This outcome was almost inevitable, considering the circumstances. He was not the first choice of the former Pastef party, condemned, like its leader, to resort to backup plans. The youth, almost fanatical about a “messiah” figure, have managed to make their message heard and accepted, disrupting the established political norms and challenging the status quo.

Macky Sall’s efforts to ensure his candidate’s loss were evident throughout the campaign. The pain felt by Benno bokk yaakaar, particularly by some of its members, is not so much the defeat of their candidate but the realization that the first round was almost predetermined.

There was still a glimmer of hope for a worse-case scenario, a second round, but many within Benno were aware of the reality, even as they tried to maintain hope through communication efforts. In truth, nothing was done to ensure Amadou Ba’s victory. His candidacy was more of a formality.

After his nomination, it was the President, who had announced he would not run on July 3rd, leading an “economic” tour and taking center stage, with a Prime Minister candidate in the background. As the election approached, Ba’s candidacy seemed to fade away. Despite discussions of a possible postponement, Ba was adamant: “I do not think about postponing the election!”

The President then used corruption allegations against Amadou Ba and two judges of the Constitutional Council to justify the postponement. Whether true or false, tension between the two sides was fueled by the slow publication of the decree announcing the postponement.

The candidate took the hit, and life went on as if nothing had happened. But it was no longer the usual love story. Negotiations for the release of Sonko and Diomaye through a proposed amnesty project followed. Some questioned the impact of such a decision on the campaign, which continued after the injunction from the 7 “wise men.”

Then came the surprising halt in Ba’s campaign in Tivaouane, accompanied by a wave of rumors and comments. At first, it seemed like bad news that would disrupt his campaign. In the end, it turned out to be a blessing, putting him back in the race with Macky Sall’s blessing through a National Executive Secretariat (Sen).

Everyone, including those who had publicly and privately refused to support Benno’s candidate, eventually decided to rally behind him. And so on…