Senegal’s ruling party, PASTEF, won a commanding majority in the country’s legislative elections, securing 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, according to provisional results announced Thursday by the national vote counting commission.

The victory gives President Bassirou Diomaye Faye a strong mandate to implement his ambitious reform agenda, which includes cracking down on corruption, revitalizing the fishing industry, and ensuring that Senegal reaps greater benefits from its natural resources.

The main opposition coalition, led by former President Macky Sall, won just 16 seats. Sall congratulated PASTEF in a post on X on election day, and two other prominent opposition leaders conceded defeat hours after polls closed on Sunday. The results will be reviewed by the constitutional council, which is expected to confirm them within the coming week.

Before Sunday’s election, PASTEF held only 56 seats in the National Assembly, while Sall’s coalition maintained a slim majority with 83 seats. The lack of legislative support had hampered Faye’s ability to deliver on his campaign promises since his election in March. In September, he dissolved the opposition-led parliament, calling for early legislative elections to break the political deadlock.

Voting unfolded peacefully across Senegal, a West African nation renowned for its political stability. The electoral campaign, however, saw sporadic clashes between rival supporters. Observers from the African Union and ECOWAS commended the smooth and transparent voting process, highlighting it as a testament to the maturity of Senegalese democracy.

At just 44 years old, Faye became Africa’s youngest elected leader in March, less than two weeks after being released from prison. A former tax inspector, Faye’s meteoric rise has been fueled by discontent among Senegal’s youth, who make up the majority of the population and have grown increasingly frustrated with the country’s political elite.

Faye’s success mirrors a growing trend across Africa, where a youthful electorate is demanding change in nations long governed by leaders accused of clinging to power. With a decisive majority in parliament, Faye now has the opportunity to address these frustrations and push forward his transformative agenda.