In a swift move following his inauguration, Senegal’s newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye appointed Ousmane Sonko, a notable opposition leader and his political ally, as the prime minister.
This appointment came just hours after Faye was sworn in as the country’s head of state.
Sonko, aged 49, had previously been imprisoned with Faye under circumstances that many considered to be politically motivated.
Sonko, once a formidable opponent to former President Macky Sall’s administration, was prohibited from presidential candidacy due to charges of insurrection.
Despite the ban, Sonko’s support for Faye as a presidential candidate was pivotal. Before this endorsement, Faye was relatively unknown in Senegal’s political landscape.
However, his victory in the recent election, where he won by a significant margin against Amadou Ba of the incumbent ruling coalition, marked a dramatic shift.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at 44, has made history as Senegal’s youngest president, vowing to bring stability and economic growth to the nation.
His inauguration was a high-profile event, attended by numerous national leaders and dignitaries, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo.
President Faye has pledged to lead Senegal towards a hopeful future, emphasizing peace, judicial independence, and democratic strength.
He commits to ethical governance and economic development for the West African nation.
