France, March 24 -- Voters in Senegal cast their ballots for a new president on Sunday, with early reports suggesting high turnout. Seventeen candidates were vying to replace incumbent Macky Sall, who has led the country since 2012 and is not eligible to run again.

Some 7.3 million voters are registered in the West African country, which has often been hailed as one of the most stable democracies in a region that experienced several coups in recent years.

The election will choose the nation's fifth presidentsince Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. It is the first time in the country's history that the incumbent is not on the ballot.

Voting began at 8am local time and ended at 6pm, with counting starting immediately afterw...