Voting is underway in Senegal for a new presidential election

After several years of unrest and political crisis, voting is underway in Senegal for a new presidential election on Sunday.

The number of registered voters in today's election in the West African country is about 73 lakh. 17 candidates. Two of them
are ahead. They are ruling coalition candidate Amadu Ba (62) and anti-establishment candidate Basiru Diomaye Faye (43).

Both Amadu and Basiru were once tax inspectors. But now they seem to have little in common.

Former Prime Minister Amadu offered continuity to voters. Basiru, on the other hand, promised deep change and left-wing pan-Africanism.

Voting will end at 6pm local time today. Provisional results may be known tonight. The first official results are expected next week.

According to the BBC report, in order to win the election, a candidate must get more than 50 percent of the votes. As the number of candidates is more, the voting may be conducted in the second phase.

According to news agency AFP report, both Amadu and Basiru are hopeful of victory in today's election.

The eventual winner will succeed incumbent President McKee Salle. Whoever wins will be tasked with leading traditionally stable Senegal out of its recent crisis.