Senegal ruling coalition loses comfortable majority

FILE PHOTO: A woman casts her ballot during the parliamentary election, at a polling station in Pikine, on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal, July 31, 2022 REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Senegal's ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition has lost its comfortable majority in parliament, securing just two seats more than two allied opposition coalitions in a legislative election at the weekend, the electoral commission said on Thursday.

Provisional results from Sunday's vote showed President Macky Sall's BBY won 82 out of 165 seats, one short of the 83 required for an absolute majority, while the alliance of opposition coalitions Yewwi Askane Wi (YAW) and the Wallu Senegal won 80.