Meet Africa’s Youngest President; Bassirou Diomaye Faye Of Senegal

After several months of political unrest in the West African nation of Senegal as a result of the decision by the ougoing president Macky Sall to seek a third term in office, the presidential elections of that country which was originally schedulled for Febraury 25, 2024 took place on Sunday March 24, 2024.

President Macky Sall who was illegible to seek a third term did not take part in the polls.

The election management body, the National Commission announced the outcome results of sunday’s ballots, declared Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the new leader of the republic od Senegal.

The 54-year old politician led the votes with a total number of 57,4%, imposing a considerable gap between him and his clossest opponent, Amadou Ba in second place with 37,4%.

Amadou Ba represented the outgoing government in power.

The first two managed to get 90.07% of the vote. As for the other 17 candidates, they shared 9.93% of the votes. It was an overwhelming victory.

The governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), seized the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected chief of state during the opening of the 1st ordinary session of the Board of Directors of the BCEAO.

Official and final results of the presidential election will be published in the coming days by the Constitutional Council.

Afterwards, it  will be followed by the swearing-in of the president-elected and the official handover of power from the outgoing head of state, Macky Sall, whose term ends on 2 April.

Who Is Faye?

Faye has been thrust into the centre of Senegalese politics more than a week after he was released from prison along with his firebrand mentor Ousmane Sonko, who was disqualified from standing in the election because of a defamation conviction.

The 44-year-old leader contested the elections as an independent due to the dissolution of his Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF) party last July for causing unrest. The PASTEF party, which was founded by Sonko in 2014, endorsed Faye.

Faye was born in 1980 in west-central Senegal’s Ndiaganiao. He met Sonko while working as a tax inspector in the government’s taxes and estates department, where they were instrumental in the formation of a labour union.

In April 2023, Faye was arrested on charges including spreading false news, contempt of court and defamation of a constituted body, for a social media post.

Sonko was arrested on multiple charges in July 2023 including provoking insurrection, conspiring with “terrorist” groups, endangering state security and immoral behaviour towards individuals younger than 21.

Faye, alongside Sonko, was released late on March 14, days before the vote, after an amnesty law was passed this month.

What are Faye’s policies

Faye, a former tax inspector, has pledged to weed out corruption, restore stability and prioritise economic sovereignty, appealing to the urban youth frustrated by unemployment in the West African country where 60 percent of the population is aged under 25.

He wants to rid Senegal of the CFA franc inherited from the colonial era, which is pegged to the euro. He proposes introducing a new currency instead. The CFA franc, backed by the French treasury, is accepted in 14 member countries.

Additionally, he wishes to renegotiate mining and hydrocarbon contracts. The country is expected to start hydrocarbon production this year.

The biggest challenge for the new leader would be to address the more than 20 percent unemployment rate.