13 things to know about Senegal’s youngest President, Faye

The 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been sworn in as the fifth Senegalese President becoming Senegal’s youngest President.

He took over from Macky Sall on Tuesday, April 2 in an event witnessed by African leaders in the new town of Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar.

Here are 13 things to know about Senegal’s Youngest President

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 was the General Secretary of the banned party PASTEF.

6. On 14 April 2023, Faye was apprehended as he exited his tax and property office on Rue de Thiong in Dakar.

7. 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.

8. Faye’s campaign was launched while he was still in detention.

9. He was a former tax inspector

10. He won the 2024 Senegalese presidential election in place of disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.

11. He is Senegalese fifth president since independence from France in 1960.

12. He is the first president to openly admit to a polygamous marriage.

13. In the election, Faye received over 54% of the vote, making him the first opposition candidate to have won an election in the first round since Senegal’s independence in 1960.