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Bassirou Diomaye Faye: From Senegalese prisoner to Africa’s youngest elected president
Ten days after his release from prison to contest in the presidential election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye is set to become the youngest head of state in Senegal's history.
The 44-year-old is expected to become not just the youngest head of state in the history of the West African nation, but also the youngest democratically elected leader in the history of Africa.
While the electoral commission is expected to announce the final results of the March 24 election in the coming days, his main rival, ruling party candidate Amadou Ba, gracefully conceded defeat, acknowledging Faye's triumph in the first round of voting on March 25.
"Considering the trends of the presidential election results and awaiting the official declaration, I congratulate the president Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye on his victory in the first round," Ba said in a statement.
Faye’s journey from a tax inspector to the pinnacle of political leadership comes in an electoral process, marred by delays and speculation.
Outgoing President Macky Sall, who had completed two terms and was barred from a third under the Senegalese constitution postponed the elections originally scheduled for February and eventually agreed to the vote on March 24.
In a show of unity and respect for democratic principles, President Macky Sall extended his congratulations to the President-elect, hailing the election as a triumph of Senegalese democracy.
“I salute the smooth running of the presidential election of March 24, 2024, and congratulate the winner, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who the trends show as the winner. It is the victory of Senegalese democracy,” Sall posted on social media.
Born on March 25, 1980, in Ndiaganiao, a village in west-central Senegal, Faye served over 11 months in jail for a social media post that the government considered subversive.
After he was released from prison by President Macky Sall on 14 March, he made his first public appearance as a presidential contender a day after his release from jail on 15 March 2024.
During the presidential campaign, Faye's endorsement by Ousmane Sonko, the 2019 presidential candidate and founder of PASTEF, propelled his candidacy forward, igniting a groundswell of support among Senegal's youth.
He promised to create jobs and campaigned strongly against corruption. "In electing me, the Senegalese people have decided on a break with a past… I promise to govern with humility and transparency," Faye told journalists in his first public appearance after the election.
The man who only turned 44 on March 25 and was relatively unknown just under a year ago is set to take the oath of office on April 2, 2024, to become Senegal's fifth president.
