Senegal’s Constitutional Council has officially proclaimed Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, as the country’s President-elect.
The 44-year-old won an absolute majority vote of 54.28 percent during the March 24 elections, far surpassing the government’s favorite candidate Amadou Ba (35.79%).
In a release issued yesterday, the Constitutional Council said the results have not been challenged by any of the 19 candidates, making Faye Senegal’s President-elect.
Faye will be sworn in on Tuesday in the town of Diamniadio, and the official power transfer from President Macky Sall will take place later at the Presidential palace in Dakar.
“Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye is elected President of the Republic of Senegal,” the Constitutional Council’s statement read.
The election saw the participation of over 4.5 million voters, which was 61.30 percent of the 7.3 million people registered on the voter’s list.
Faye’s ascension to power remains a mystery to many Senegalese and people who have been following the elections.
He was among dozens arrested during three years of political turbulence in Senegal, marked by anti-government protests that garnered much support for the opposition. He regained freedom in mid-March, just a few days to voting.
Having previously held no elected position, he is the first opposition candidate to be elected President in the first round of election since Senegal’s independence in 1960.
Aside from becoming Africa’s youngest president upon his swearing, Diomaye Faye will also become the fifth President of Senegal.
In his first public appearance on March 25 since his election, the young leader promised to regain Senegal’s independence which he said had been traded off to Western governments.
He pledged to prioritize reconciliation, transparency and fight against corruption.
He said Senegal “will remain the friendly country and the safe and reliable ally of any partner who engages with us in virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation”.
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