Bassirou Diomaye Faye to be the new President of Senegal
Person in News
4 min read
The deck has been cleared for Bassirou Diomaye Faye to be sworn in as the next President of the West African nation of Senegal. The Constitutional Court of Senegal confirmed the victory of the opposition candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in its ruling on 29 March 2024. He is likely to take oath as the 5th President of Senegal on April 2, 2024.
At the age of 44, Bassirou Diomaye Faye will be the youngest elected President of Africa.
He will replace President Macky, who has been in power for the last 12 years.
Presidential Election in Senegal
Voting was held in Senegal on March 24, 2024, to elect the new President. The result of the Presidential election was declared on March 27, 2024. The top Constitutional Court of Senegal validated the result in its ruling on 29 March. In Senegal, the polling result must be validated by the country's Constitutional Court.
Opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye secured more than 54 per cent of the votes. The ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba, supported by outgoing President Macky, secured around 35 per cent of the vote. The third-placed candidate Aliou Mamadou Dia, secured 2.8 percent of the votes.
Political Turmoil in Senegal
There have been large and often violent anti-government protests since 2021 against the government, with dozens being killed and hundreds arrested since 2021. Protests broke out in the country in June last year after the jailed opposition party leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted of defamation. The President-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye was also arrested and put in jail in April last year for defamation and contempt of court. He was released just 10 days before the election result.
Further protests erupted in the country after the Presidential poll was postponed in February by the government. People feared that President Macky wanted to remain in power and hence had postponed the election. In Senegal, a person cannot be president for more than two terms. The term of the President in Senegal is five years.
However, none of the opposition candidates contested the election result this time in the Constitutional Court. A peaceful transition of power in Senegal will strengthen democracy in the country. Eight military coups have occurred in Senegal since 2020.
Senegal
Senegal, located in West Africa, is also known as the “Gateway to Africa”.
It gained its independence from France in 1960.
Capital: Dakar
Currency: CFA franc
