A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Parcelle, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday. REUTERS

Senegal's Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Pastef party, Ousmane Sonko, reacts during a campaign rally for the upcoming early legislative election in Guediawaye, on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal, last week. REUTERS

On Sunday, Senegal held parliamentary elections, with the new leaders aiming for a strong majority to implement the ambitious reforms that brought them to power eight months ago. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye won in March, promising economic transformation, social justice, and a fight against corruption—raising hopes among a predominantly young population grappling with high inflation and widespread unemployment. However, an opposition-led parliament hindered the government's initial months, prompting Faye to dissolve the chamber in September and call for snap elections as soon as the constitution allowed.

"I hope that the ruling party, Pastef, will win the elections to gain a majority so they can better fulfill their mandate," said 56-year-old Pascal Goudiaby, among dozens waiting to cast their ballots at a polling station in the capital Dakar. "The priority is unemployment; young people are facing so much unemployment," he added.

Faye appointed his fiery mentor Ousmane Sonko as prime minister after Sonko's own presidential bid was blocked following a three-year deadly standoff with the former authorities. The duo promised a leftist pan-African agenda, vowing to diversify political and economic partnerships, review hydrocarbon and fishing contracts, and reclaim Senegal's sovereignty, which they claimed had been compromised abroad.

Approximately 7.3 million registered voters in Senegal will elect 165 MPs for five-year terms. Analysts note that Senegalese voters have historically confirmed their presidential choice during parliamentary elections, with the Pastef party favored to win.

"I think that whoever you trusted in the presidential election, you need to renew your confidence in him so he can achieve what he started," said 56-year-old voter Toure Aby. "We want life to be less expensive for the Senegalese. Everything's expensive: water, electricity, food."

Voters are upholding a long democratic tradition in Senegal, widely regarded as a stable outlier in a coup-prone region. Prime Minister Sonko cast his vote in the morning in the southern city of Ziguinchor, calling for calm. "Democracy is expressed in peace and stability, and I believe that in a democracy, there is no room for violence," he said.

Sonko spent three weeks on the campaign trail, promising projects and investment in the regions he visited, while applauding patriotism and national sovereignty. Reminiscent of his years as a fiery opposition leader, he initially called for vengeance after attacks on his supporters but later urged restraint. Despite the heated tone, clashes were sporadic in the lead-up to the vote.

Although some agreements have been reached between coalitions, the opposition remains fragmented. Former president Macky Sall is leading an opposition grouping from abroad, breaking with the political restraint typically adopted by ex-leaders in Senegal. He left power in April after triggering one of the worst crises in decades with a last-minute postponement of the presidential election. Former prime minister and presidential runner-up Amadou Ba, and Dakar mayor Barthelemy Dias, are also heading coalitions.

The opposition has accused the new government of inaction, amateurism, and a desire to settle scores with the previous administration. Unemployment stands at over 20 percent, and many continue to risk their lives monthly in attempts to reach Europe by boat. The government stated that an audit of public finances revealed a wider budget deficit than previously announced, with the International Monetary Fund suspending an aid program pending the audit's review. Moody's downgraded Senegal's credit rating and placed the country under observation.

Since taking office, the authorities have lowered the prices of household goods such as rice, oil, and sugar and launched a series of reviews. They have initiated justice system reform and presented an ambitious 25-year development plan aimed at transforming the economy and public policy. Reliable projections of the new parliament's makeup could be available from Monday morning.

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