Senegalese voters cast their ballots in a delayed presidential election

Voting was under way in Senegal on Sunday in a delayed presidential election that many hope will bring change after a turbulent political period that triggered violent antigovernment protests and boosted support for the opposition.

At stake is the bid to end a regime that pushed investorfriendly policies but failed to alleviate economic hardship in one of coup-prone West Africa’s more stable democracies just as it is poised to become an oil and gas producer. Nineteen contenders are vying to replace President Macky Sall, stepping down after a second term marred by unrest over prosecution of firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and concern that Sall wanted to extend his mandate past the constitutional limit. The incumbent is not on the ballot for the first time in Senegal’s history. His ruling coalition chose former prime minister Amadou Ba, 62, as its candidate. There are 7.3-million registered voters. In the capital, Dakar, hundreds of voters queued for hours before polls opened on time at 8am GMT.

In the seaside Ngor neighbourhood, fisherman Alioune Samba said he was voting for the change everyone wants. “Food, water, school; everything is expensive with the low income we have in Senegal,” he said.

Provisional results are expected by March 26. Voting bureaus began posting tallies on Sunday night. Sonko, in jail until recently, was disqualified from the race because of a defamation conviction. He backs the cofounder of his dissolved Pastef party, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was held about a year ago on charges including defamation and contempt of court.

An amnesty law passed this month allowed their release days before the vote. They campaigned together under the banner “Diomaye is Sonko”. Some high-profile politicians and opposition candidates back Faye’s candidacy.

“The population is choosing between continuation and rupture,” Faye said after casting his vote, urging contenders to accept the winner.