Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a leftist advocate for pan-Africanism, was inaugurated on Tuesday as Senegal’s youngest president, clinching victory in the first round of elections with a promise of sweeping reforms just ten days after his release from prison.
Despite never having held elected office before, the 44-year-old attracted the attention of numerous African leaders who attended his swearing-in ceremony near Dakar.
In his oath-taking, Faye pledged to faithfully execute his duties as President of Senegal, uphold the Constitution and laws, defend national sovereignty, and strive for African unity. The official transfer of power from outgoing President Macky Sall is set to occur at the presidential palace in Dakar.
Faye, previously detained along with other political opponents, commenced his presidential campaign while still in custody. He now assumes the presidency as Senegal’s fifth leader since gaining independence from France in 1960, openly acknowledging his polygamous marriage.
Aligned with his populist ally Ousmane Sonko, although Sonko was disqualified from the election, Faye outlined their priorities in his victory speech: promoting national reconciliation, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, and combatting corruption.
He aims to reclaim national control over vital sectors like oil, gas, and fishing, and intends to depart from the CFA franc currency, viewing it as a colonial vestige, while focusing more on agricultural development to attain food self-sufficiency.
Despite these assertive domestic policies, Faye reassured investors of Senegal’s commitment to maintaining friendly and reliable relations with its partners. His democratic triumph, following a period of tension and unrest, received acclaim globally, with endorsements from entities like the US State Department, signaling an interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
Internationally, Faye aims to reintegrate Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, currently under military rule, into the West African regional bloc ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
