Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been sworn in as Senegal’s youngest president pledging systemic change, greater sovereignty and calm after years of deadly turmoil.
The 44-year-old left wing pan-Africanist who has never before held an elected office, swept to a first-round election victory on a promise of radical reform just 10 days after being released from prison.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony in front of hundreds of officials and several African heads of state at an exhibition centre in Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar, Faye said:
“Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,”
I vow to defend the integrity of the territory and national independence, and to spare no effort to achieve African unity.
I am aware that the results of the ballot box express a profound desire for systemic change. Under my leadership, Senegal will be a country of hope, a peaceful country with an independent judiciary and a strengthened democracy.
“I have painful memories of the martyrs of Senegalese democracy, the amputees, the wounded and the former prisoners. I will always bear in mind the heavy sacrifices made in order never to disappoint you.”
Faye was among a group of political opponents freed from prison just 10 days before the March 24th presidential election under an amnesty announced by the previous president Macky Sall, who had tried several times to delay the election.
Faye’s campaign was launched while he was still in detention.
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