Senegal's voters still waiting for election results

Senegal's voters still waiting for election results

Alex Duval Smith

BBC News

Posted at 11:59

Getty

Senegalese voters went to the polls on Sunday

Voters in Senegal are still waiting to hear the final result of Sunday’s parliamentary election, which the country’s prime minister claims was won by the ruling coalition of President Macky Sall.

So far the interior ministry, which releases results on behalf of the electoral commission, has not yet held its much-awaited press conference to announce final figures. It had been expected to take place at noon on Monday.

Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne claimed on Monday afternoon that the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition had ‘’emerged victorious’’ on a high turnout of 54%.

The election was largely peaceful and despite the delay in releasing the results, people have remained calm.

But there’s suspense in Dakar where supporters of the jailed mayor, Khalifa Sall, mounted an energetic campaign in his honour.

Khalifa Sall is awaiting trial on charges of misspending city funds. A victory for his camp would potentially pave the way for him to secure immunity from prosecution and put him in pole position for the 2019 presidential election.

The parliamentary election featured campaigning by former president, Abdoulaye Wade, aged 91, who returned to Senegal from France to head an opposition list of candidates.

Several religious parties also ran and early indications suggest two of them won between five and seven seats in the 165-seat parliament.