Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a left-wing pan-Africanist, was sworn in as Senegal’s youngest president on Tuesday after winning a first-round election on a platform of radical reform 10 days after being released from prison.
The 44-year-old has never held elected office before, yet several African leaders attended the ceremony in Diamniadio, a new town near the capital Dakar.
“Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,” Faye told the assembled officials.
Furthermore, he pledged to “scrupulously observe the provisions of the Constitution and the laws” in order to preserve “the integrity of the territory and national independence, and to spare no effort to achieve African unity” .
The solemn transition of power to outgoing President Macky Sall will take place at the presidential palace in Dakar.
Faye was among a number of political opponents released from prison 10 days before the March 24 presidential election under an amnesty announced by Sall, who had attempted to postpone the vote.
Faye launched his campaign while still in custody.
cc: Punch Ng
