Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Takes Oath of Office as President
POLITICS DIGEST- Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been sworn-in as the youngest president in Senegal and Africa after emerging victorious during the country’s presidential election held two weeks ago.
The 44-year-old leader took the oath of office on Tuesday at an exhibition centre in the new town of Diamniadio near the capital Dakar.
“Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,” he said.
The ceremony was held in the presence of several African leaders, including Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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The formal handover of power with President Macky Sall will then take place at the presidential palace in Dakar.
Faye was one of a group of political opponents freed from prison 10 days before the March 24 presidential ballot under an amnesty announced by Sall who had tried to delay the vote.
Faye’s campaign was launched whilst he was still in detention.
The former tax inspector will become the West African state’s fifth president since independence from France in 1960.
Working with his mentor Ousmane Sonko, who was barred from the election, Faye declared their priorities in his victory speech: national reconciliation, easing a cost-of-living crisis and fighting corruption.
The anti-establishment leader has vowed to restore national sovereignty over key assets such as the oil, gas and fishing sectors.
