LAGOS,Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been inaugurated as the fifth President of Senegal, marking a remarkable ascent from prison to the palace in just weeks.
The left-wing pan-Africanist was sworn in on Tuesday after sweeping to a first-round victory in the March 24 elections on a pledge of reform.
At age 44, he is Senegal’s youngest president ever.
Here are thirteen things you need to know about Bassirou Faye;
1. Faye was born on March 25, 1980, in Ndiaganiao, Senegal
2. He Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in law. Later, passed exams to join the National School of Administration (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004.
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3. He was the former General-Secretary of the dissolved political party, PASTEF, founded in 2014 by Ousmane Sonko.
4. After graduation, he became a tax inspector in the Tax and Estates department, where he met Sonko, a former schoolmate.
5. Faye and Sonko‘s friendship grew closer in 2014, in the Taxes and Estates Union, created by Sonko, and at this time, Faye campaigned to facilitate homeownership for tax and property agents.
6. Sonko, PASTEF leader and Senegal’s main opposition leader endorsed Faye as a presidential candidate in November 2023, following uncertainty over the possibility of Sonko contesting.
7. Faye was arrested on April 14, 2023, he spent more than 11 months in prison for charges related to a social media post and regained freedom just 10 days before the presidential election, and still won.
8. Following his endorsement by Sonko, on 15 March 2024, a day after his release from jail, Faye gathered hundreds of supporters at his first public appearance as a presidential contender.
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9. Former President Abdoulaye Wade endorsed Faye on the same day, in a boost to his chances of winning the election.
10. During the presidential campaign, Faye promised to create jobs, campaigned strongly against corruption, and vowed to reexamine energy contracts, running under the slogan “Diomaye mooy Ousmane”, which means “Diomaye is Ousmane” in Wolof, as he hoped Sonko’s charisma and popular would appeal to Senegal’s youth for his victory at the pools.
11. He was one of Sonko’s trusted allies and personal friends and also became popular with Senegalese youths.
12. When Faye, Sonko, and others were released from prison by incumbent President Macky Sall on 14 March, days before the election, Faye began campaigns including vows to fight the “French economic stranglehold” over Senegal.
13. Faye is married to two wives Marie Khone and Absa, with four children.
