Here are 5 things to know about Senegal’s president-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye
By Hans Ngala
News of Senegal’s election gripped the continent like a fever. Everyone across West Africa and the rest of Africa – has been following the news with rapt attention.
It was pretty interesting as incumbent President, Macky Sall warned that those making early predictions of a victory would be arrested.
One person who had already been arrested months prior and later released weeks before the Senegalese people went to the polls – was Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Faye was later declared winner in the elections and his victory is being celebrated across Senegal.
Here are five (5) things to know about Senegal’s president-elect:
- He is a polygamist and married to two wives. Their names are Marie Khone Faye and Absa Faye
- He will become Africa’s youngest democratically elected head of state when he is officially inaugurated into office. He turned 44 years old yesterday Monday the 25th of March 2024.
The youngest military leader in Africa is Burkina Faso’s Capt. Ibrahim Traoré. The second youngest democratically elected leader in Africa is Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed who is 47 and Malagasy president Andre Rajoalina who is 49.
- Faye holds a Master’s degree and is a graduate of the National School of Administration in Dakar, Senegal.
- He plans to rethink Senegal’s foreign policy as it relates to France and discontinue the use of the CFA Franc which is tied to the Euro and has strong ties to former colonial ruler, France.
- He is a pan-Africanist and upholds ideals proposed by Cheik Anta Diop.
Faye will formally assume office after an inauguration ceremony that has been scheduled for the 2nd of April, 2024.
