Senegal has witnessed the historic election of its youngest president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who emerged victorious as the opposition leader in the country’s presidential race.
Faye, born in 1980, will assume office as the fifth president, succeeding outgoing President Macky Sall, who completes his second term.
Millions of Senegalese citizens participated in a peaceful election following three years of unrest and opposition demonstrations against the incumbent, Macky Sall.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a Senegalese politician and former tax inspector, was born in 1980. He previously served as the general secretary of the dissolved PASTEF party and is now elected as the president, replacing the disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.
Faye earned his baccalaureate in 2000 and later pursued a master’s degree in law. He successfully passed competitive exams, gaining admission to both the National School of Administration (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004. His career began as a tax inspector in the Tax and Estates department, where he developed a close relationship with Sonko, a fellow alum and future politician.
In the political arena, Faye quickly rose within PASTEF, playing a significant role in shaping Sonko’s presidential program in 2019. He assumed the role of general secretary of PASTEF in February 2021, following Sonko’s arrest, and worked to unite the opposition for the 2022 elections.
Despite uncertainties surrounding Sonko’s eligibility, PASTEF endorsed Faye as its candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Faye’s candidacy, validated by the Senegalese Constitutional Council, gained momentum after his release from jail in March 2024, with support from former president Abdoulaye Wade and his Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS).
Throughout his campaign, Faye pledged to address unemployment, corruption, and energy contracts, leveraging Sonko’s popularity among the youth. His imprisonment in April 2023 and subsequent release marked significant moments in his political journey, stirring political tensions and protests for electoral transparency.
Faye advocates for systemic change and left-wing pan-Africanism, emphasizing Senegal’s sovereignty. He aims to reduce presidential powers, combat corruption, and implement economic and social reforms to enhance the country’s development.
