Senegal’s new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, will be leading the country alongside his political mentor, Ousmane Sonko, whom he has just appointed as the new Prime Minister.
President Faye, who was sworn into office earlier on Tuesday, wasted no time in unveiling his cabinet members shortly after the official transfer of power from outgoing President Macky Sall.
At just 42 years old, Faye becomes Senegal’s fifth President and the youngest head of state in the nation’s history.
Both Faye and Sonko share a history of political collaboration and adversity, having been released from jail just 10 days before the March 24 elections.
Despite the formidable odds, Faye secured 54% of the vote and defeated the government-backed candidate, Amadou Ba, who garnered 35% of the vote.
The path to the presidency for Faye was paved by Sonko, who co-founded the opposition PASTEF party alongside him.
However, Sonko’s legal troubles, including a conviction in July of the previous year, made him ineligible to contest in the elections.
This setback compelled Sonko to endorse Faye as the party’s presidential candidate.
During their time in prison, Sonko galvanized his youthful supporters and mobilized them in support of Faye’s candidacy under the rallying cry “Diomaye Mooy Sonko,” meaning “Diomaye is Sonko.”
Sonko, renowned for his charismatic anti-establishment stance and promises to combat corruption, had been imprisoned since July on corruption charges.
He was disqualified from running for the presidency due to separate defamation allegations.
He will now join forces with Faye to implement Faye’s political vision of fighting against corruption.
The young leader said he was going to “commit to governing with humility, transparency and fighting corruption at all scales”.
