Senegalese president's party tipped to win legislative poll as some opposition concede

As votes were still being counted in Senegal’s Sunday legislative elections, expectations were high that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's party, Pastef, would emerge victorious.

Two major opposition leaders, including Barthelemy Dias of the SAMM Sa Kaddu coalition, conceded the race, giving Pastef a significant lead.

Faye, aiming for a parliamentary majority to implement his reform agenda, urged calm and peaceful acceptance of the results.

The elections, which had been marred by political violence in the lead-up, saw over 7 million voters cast ballots for 165 seats.

The main opposition threat came from an alliance including former Prime Minister Macky Sall's APR party.

Faye's campaign focused on tackling corruption and addressing economic issues, particularly rising inflation and youth unemployment.

Despite challenges, his administration remains committed to reform, though economic setbacks, including a larger-than-expected budget deficit and halted IMF funding, complicate matters.