Meet Senegal’s youngest President-elect: Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Bassirou Diomaye Faye was on Sunday March 24 elected President of Senegal.

The 44-year-old becomes Senegal’s
youngest President following an unprecedented victory in the presidential poll.

Faye will be taking over as the country’s fifth president by the outgoing President Macky Sall, who is stepping down after a second term.

Millions of Senegalese nationals took part in a peaceful vote on Sunday, following three years of turbulence and opposition protests against the incumbent, Macky Sall.

Brief profile
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a Senegalese politician and a former tax inspector was born in 1980.

He was the former general secretary of dissolved PASTEF and is running for president in the 2024 election in place of disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.

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Faye obtained his baccalaureate in 2000 and later secured a master’s degree in law.

Here are ten things you need to know about Bassirou Faye

1. Early Life: Born on March 25, 1980, in Ndiaganiao, Senegal
2. Education Journey: Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in law. Later, passed exams to join the National School of Administration (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004.
3. Career Path: Became a tax inspector in the Tax and Estates department, where he met Sonko, a former schoolmate.
4. Family Life: Married to two wives, Marie Khone and Absa, with four children.
5. Political Affiliation: Former General-Secretary of PASTEF, a political party founded by Ousmane Sonko in 2014.
6. Legal Troubles: Arrested on April 14, 2023, for charges related to a social media post, spent over 11 months in prison.
7. Presidential Endorsement: Endorsed by Sonko as a presidential candidate in November 2023.
8. Triumphant Return: Released just ten days before the presidential election, Faye made a successful bid for the presidency.
9. Public Debut: Held his first public appearance as a presidential contender on March 15, 2024.
10. Historic Victory: Elected as Senegal’s President on March 24, 2024, marking a significant moment in the country’s political landscape