Things To Know About Newly Sworn-In Senegal’s Youngest President

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a left-wing pan-Africanist, was sworn in on Tuesday as Senegal’s youngest president after sweeping to a first-round victory 10 days after he was released from prison.

The 44-year-old has never before held an elected office but several African leaders attended the ceremony in the new town of Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar.

Here are fifteen things you need to know about the Senegal’s Youngest President:

READ ALSO: Tinubu To Attend Inauguration Of Senegal President Elect Tuesday

1. Faye was born on March 25, 1980, in Ndiaganiao, in the western department of M’Bour, Senegal.
2. He went to primary school in his village and undertook middle and high school in Mbour.
3. In 2000, Faye earned his baccalaureate (A university bachelor’s degree.)
4. He attained a Master’s degree in law in Dakar Cheikh Anta Diop University and subsequently cleared both competitive exams, enrolling at the National School of Administration of Senegal (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004.
5. He is 44 years old.
6. He is Senegal’s youngest President.
7. He is the first president to openly admit to a polygamous marriage.
8. He took over from immediate past president Macky Sall.
9. He was the General Secretary of the banned party PASTEF.
10. He won the 2024 Senegalese presidential election in place of disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.
11. On 14 April 2023, Faye was apprehended as he exited his tax and property office on Rue de Thiong in Dakar.
12. Faye was among a group of political opponents freed from prison 10 days before the March 24 presidential ballot under an amnesty announced by Sall.
13. Faye’s campaign was launched while he was still in detention.
14. He was a former tax inspector
15. He is Senegalese fifth president since independence from France in 1960.