By Abiola Olawale
A left-wing pan-Africanist, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has now taken the oath of office on Tuesday, becoming Senegal’s youngest president.
Faye swept the poll at a first-round victory on a pledge of radical reform just 10 days after he was released from prison.
Addressing several Senegalese citizens and African leaders at the ceremony in the new town of Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar, the 44-year-old vowed to be faithful throughout his time in the top seat of the country.
“Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfill the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,” Faye swore before the gathered officials.
He also vowed to “scrupulously observe the provisions of the Constitution and the laws” and to defend “the integrity of the territory and national independence, and to spare no effort to achieve African unity.”
The formal handover of power with outgoing President Macky Sall will take place at the presidential palace in Dakar.
The New Diplomat reports that Faye was among a group of political opponents freed from prison 10 days before the March 24 presidential ballot under an amnesty announced by Sall, who had tried to delay the vote.
Faye’s campaign was launched while he was still in detention. After the conclusion of the voting process, Senegal’s Constitutional Council on Friday confirmed the presidential election victory of Faye, paving the way for his inauguration as the country’s fifth president and the youngest democratically elected president in Africa.
The top court validated the provisional results announced on Wednesday based on vote tallies from 100 percent of polling stations.
Faye won more than 54% of votes in the delayed presidential poll, with ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba taking over 35%.
