At the age of 44, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye is youngest democratically elected president in Africa. He won a landslide victory in presidential elections on Sunday with 54% of the vote, and is promising drastic changes.

Dakar-Plateau

Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been confirmed as Senegal's next president, marking him as the youngest democratically elected president in Africa at the age of 44. He secured a landslide victory in the presidential elections, garnering 54% of the vote. Faye's election is notable for his promises of implementing drastic changes during his tenure.



Ex-Political prisoner Faye confirmed as Senegal's next President

Appearing unsettled after a victory that stunned everyone, including himself. From political prisoner to president in less than 10 days, at the age of 44, Basu Jemai Fay is the youngest elected head of state in Africa, and is promising change to the people of the West African nation of Senegal. In electing me as their president, the Senegalese people have chosen a break from the past to give way to the immense hope inspired by our project of a new society. Previously unknown to the public, Jemai stepped into the limelight after being released from prison following his arrest on a range of charges, including endangering state security. Opposition leader Ousmane Sanko chose him as his stand-in after he was disqualified from running because of a conviction for defamation. Both denied the charges and said they were politically motivated. Jemai campaigned with the slogan, Jemai is Sanko, and Sanko is Jemai. Selling a project of a just society, the anti-establishment party Bastef wants to renegotiate oil, gas and mining contracts, introduce a new currency and forge an equal partnership with France, the former colonial power. If Basiru deviates from the project, we will pull his ears and tell him, come back because the country does not belong to you. Someone else that has been pulling Jemai's ears is his father. We met him in the village of Njaganya, where Jemai grew up. In 2022, the former tax inspector ran to become the village mayor, but lost. His father believes overcoming failure led to his success. He is extremely honest and courageous, and he has been working hard all his life. Jemai had a modest rural upbringing, working the land in the Sahel. This is where villagers come to grow millet. Look at it now. It hasn't rained for the last eight months. There are no wells nearby. And this is the challenge for the next president, to ensure that not only his village, but the people of this country have enough to eat. Despite a booming economy, almost 40% of Senegalese live in poverty. President Jemai will now need to deliver on his promise to reduce economic disparity and bring a greater share of Senegal's wealth to a people thirsty for change. Nicholas Hawke, Al Jazeera, Njaganya, Senegal.

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Shanghai

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Ukraine Invasion

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Canberra

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

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Rafah

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Jerusalem

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Baku

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London

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Marsden Park

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Port-au-Prince

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Beirut

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Doha

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Geographe

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Kokoda

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