Faye sworn in as Senegal president, promises reforms, to tackle corruption

Faye sworn in as Senegal president, promises reforms, to tackle corruption

Senegal’s once jailed opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was sworn in on Tuesday as the West African nation’s fifth and youngest president ever, promising to restore stability and bring economic progress.

President Bola Tinubu along with many other African leaders witnessed the inauguration held in Dakar.

Faye, a 44-year-old former tax inspector, defeated Amadou Ba, the candidate of outgoing President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition, by a landslide in the first round of voting, with high hopes for change in the country of about 18 million people.

“The results of the election showed a profound desire for change,” Faye said after taking the oath of office at a ceremony he attended with his two wives.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat also attended the ceremony.

The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger also sent representatives.

The smooth transition was a welcome boost after three years of unprecedented political turmoil in Senegal that had raised concern about democratic backsliding in the coup-prone region of West Africa, where juntas have seized power and cut ties with traditional Western allies in favour of Russia.

The new president has vowed to tackle corruption and introduce a series of economic reforms to prioritise national interests, including the re-negotiation of oil, gas and mineral contracts with foreign operators.

“Senegal will be a country of hope, at peace, with an independent justice system and a stronger democracy,” Faye said.

“I will work towards preserving peace and national cohesion and make sure we preserve our most cherished resource, our national stability.”

Ousmane Sonko backed his right-hand man Faye from jail after his candidacy was rejected.

Faye was also in detention at the time on charges, including defamation, which he denies.

Expectations are high as Faye, relatively inexperienced in government affairs, becomes president of a young population frustrated with rising living costs and a lack of jobs in a country set to become an oil and gas producer this year.