President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a journey to Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday to participate in the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
According to a statement from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, this trip comes as an invitation from the Republic of Senegal.
As the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu will be among other regional leaders attending the inauguration at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre.
Accompanying him on this trip will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, along with other senior government officials. The President is expected to return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the inauguration.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s Journey: From Prison to President of Senegal
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, known as Diomaye, has risen to power from humble beginnings despite never holding national elected office. He defied the odds by promising radical change and being guided by a charismatic mentor.
Winning the March 24 presidential election with 54.3 percent of the vote, just 10 days after leaving prison, Diomaye’s anti-establishment stance, support from opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko, and his modest personality led to a resounding victory over the governing coalition’s candidate.
When he is sworn in on Tuesday, at the age of 44, Faye will become Senegal’s fifth and youngest president since independence from France in 1960.
In his victory speech, delivered in French and Wolof, Faye emphasized his priorities of “national reconciliation”, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, and combating corruption.
He has pledged left-wing pan-Africanism to reclaim national sovereignty, targeting sectors such as oil, gas, and fishing, which he believes have been undervalued. Faye aims to introduce a new national currency in place of the CFA franc and intends to invest significantly in agriculture and industry to tackle unemployment, officially at around 20 percent.
On the international front, Faye aims to reintegrate military-led Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger into the ECOWAS fold and recalibrate partnerships for mutual benefit.
Ousmane Sonko’s Influence
Rising in the shadow of the popular but legally embattled Sonko, Diomaye was endorsed by Sonko after the latter was disqualified from standing in the presidential race himself. Together, they founded the Pastef political party in 2014, which was dissolved by authorities last year.
Released from prison on March 14 under an amnesty, the allies embarked on a vigorous campaign tour, drawing large crowds chanting “Sonko mooy Diomaye, Diomaye mooy Sonko” (Sonko is Diomaye, Diomaye is Sonko).
Described as two sides of the same coin with distinct styles, they have rallied support among former Pastef activists.
Diomaye Faye
A New Generation Politician
Hailing from a modest rural background, Faye, a practicing Muslim with two wives, embodies a new generation of Senegalese politicians. Born into a family of farmers in Ndiaganiao, a village 150 kilometers from Dakar, Faye pursued his education at Dakar’s National Administration School but remains connected to his roots, regularly visiting his village.
Growing up as a shepherd, Faye remained close to his mother, Khady Diouf, assisting with household chores. He admires figures like Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Zinedine Zidane, and enjoys activities like mixed martial arts, swimming, and reggae music, alongside his love for Real Madrid football.
Diomaye Faye is described by his uncle as “a good boy” who pays close attention to his conduct and is attuned to the realities of his country.
