Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been sworn in as Senegal’s president, marking the completion of the previously lesser-known opposition figure’s remarkable journey from prison to the presidency in a matter of weeks.
At the age of 44, the left-wing pan-Africanist assumed office on Tuesday following a decisive victory in the March 24 elections, where he campaigned on a platform of reform.
This makes him the youngest president in Senegal’s history.In a ceremony held in Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar, Faye pledged,
“Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfill the office of president of the Republic of Senegal.”
He also vowed to uphold the constitution and laws, defend the nation’s territorial integrity and independence, and work towards African unity.
The official transfer of power from outgoing President Macky Sall will occur at the presidential palace in Dakar.
Faye and his mentor, Ousmane Sonko, were released from prison less than two weeks before the elections, following a political amnesty announced by Sall.
Aissata Sagna, a 39-year-old factory worker who supported Faye’s campaign, described his inauguration as “the culmination of a long struggle for democracy and the rule of law,” adding, “This is a day of celebration for us, even if we have lost young people killed during the demonstrations.”
The election was a test of Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa, following months of unrest triggered by the arrests of Sonko and Faye last year, amid concerns that Sall would seek a third term despite constitutional limits.
Rights groups reported dozens killed and about 1,000 jailed during the protests.Campaigning on promises to combat corruption and improve the management of Senegal’s natural resources.
Faye’s victory was viewed as a response to the youth’s yearning for change, fueled by discontent over high unemployment and perceived exploitation by France, the former colonial power.In his inaugural speech, Faye, also known as Diomaye, committed to combating corruption and revitalizing the economy.
A devout Muslim hailing from a small town, he has two wives, both in attendance at the inauguration.
