Macky Sall - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Senegal’s new government has been appointed, PM Sonko says

SENEGAL has a new government with 25 ministers and five junior ministers, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said, following the president's landslide election victory in March. The cabinet was approved by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, who was inaugurated on Tuesday and appointed Sonko, a key backer, as prime minister. Faye succeeded President Macky Sall, whose 12-year presidency saw a rising wave of public discontent. The cabinet will be closely watched after Faye made radical campaign promises such as dropping the CFA franc West African common currency. He has slightly backtracked on that pledge, but this week the former tax inspector promised an audit of the oil,…

Apr

2024

By BATE FELIX and PORTIA CROWE

Senegal’s new prime minister is political firebrand Ousmane Sonko

NEWS

SENEGAL'S new prime minister Ousmane Sonko is a firebrand politician who rallied Senegalese youth to enable the election of his top lieutenant Bassirou Diomaye Faye as president, and who now, as expected, has secured a top role in return. A fierce opponent of former president Macky Sall, Sonko, 49, was barred from standing in the March 24 presidential election because of a conviction for defamation. He denied any wrongdoing, but chose the little-known Faye as his replacement, urging his supporters to back him instead. Sonko and Faye, both former tax inspectors, have positioned themselves as opponents of corruption and elitism…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Senegal President Faye appoints ally Sonko as prime minister

NEWS

NEW Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye appointed firebrand politician and key backer Ousmane Sonko as prime minister in his first act as president. Sonko, an opponent of former President Macky Sall, is popular among the West African nation's youth but was barred from the March 24 presidential election due to a defamation conviction. He denied any wrongdoing. Campaigning jointly under the slogan "Diomaye is Sonko," Sonko urged supporters to vote for his top lieutenant, Faye, who ultimately won with over 54% of the vote in the first round. Faye was inaugurated on Tuesday. Speaking after his appointment, Sonko said he would present…

Apr

2024

By NGOUDA DIONE

Faye sworn in as Senegal president, cites ‘profound desire for change’

NEWS

SENEGAL'S once jailed opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was sworn in as the West African nation's fifth and youngest president ever, promising to restore stability and bring economic progress. The 44-year-old former tax inspector defeated Amadou Ba, the candidate of outgoing President Macky Sall's ruling coalition, by a landslide in the first round of voting, reflecting high hopes for change in the country of around 18 million. "The results of the election showed a profound desire for change," Faye said after taking the oath of office at a ceremony he attended with his two wives. Over a dozen heads of state and regional representatives…

Mar

2024

By MOUHAMED ABDALLAH LY and PAPE CHÉRIF BERTRAND BASSÈNE

Bassirou Diomaye Faye: from prison runner-up to president of Senegal

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

BASSIROU Diomaye Faye was elected as Senegal’s fifth president on 25 March 2024. Incumbent president Macky Sall and his candidate, former prime minister Amadou Ba, were both quick to congratulate the opposition candidate on his victory when the results came out. This has been a major – and fast – turn of events for Faye (commonly called “Diomaye”), who was in prison just 10 days before the election. Faye was backed by the popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was deprived of his electoral rights for five years due to a prior conviction. Sonko received a six-month suspended prison sentence…

Mar

2024

By PORTIA CROWE and DIADIE BA

Senegal’s president-elect Faye vows to govern with humility

NEWS

SENEGAL opposition presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a political newcomer popular among disaffected youth, promised to govern with humility and transparency. Faye, set to be declared the next president after his main rival called him to concede defeat, thanked President Macky Sall and other candidates for respecting Senegal's democratic tradition by recognising his victory well before the official results. "In electing me, the Senegalese people have decided on a break with a past," Faye told journalists in his first public appearance since the election. "I promise to govern with humility and transparency." Provisional results showed Faye with about 53.7% and…

Mar

2024

By BATE FELIX and ALESSANDRA PRENTICE

Senegal election a welcome boost for coup-prone West Africa

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

FOR all the drama and the sometimes violent protests in the run-up to Senegal's presidential election, the former French colony looked set for a peaceful transition of power on Monday - a welcome boost for democracy in coup-prone West Africa. Sunday's vote, which was delayed from its original date of February 25, went off smoothly with supporters of opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye celebrating in the streets overnight as preliminary results put him firmly ahead. On Monday, both Faye's rival in the ruling coalition, Amadou Ba, and outgoing President Macky Sall congratulated Faye for winning the election before any official results from the electoral…

Mar

2024

By DOUGLAS YATES

Senegal: Macky Sall’s reputation is dented, but the former president did a lot at home and abroad

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MACKY Sall’s legacy as Senegal’s president since 2012 became more complex in his last year in office. The year was so filled with transgressions that they appeared to have tarnished his reputation indelibly. For some months he gave the impression to his adversaries and critics that he had third-term ambitions – not uncommon in contemporary west African politics. A public outcry followed his decision on 3 February 2024 to postpone the polls that had originally been scheduled for three weeks later. Then his deputies in the national assembly voted unanimously to postpone the elections and prolong Sall’s term in office…

Mar

2024

By BATE FELIX and PORTIA CROWE

From prison to palace: Faye’s road to Senegal’s presidency

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

JUST a few months ago, the man set to be Senegal's next president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, was sitting in a prison cell, a relatively unknown figure outside his opposition party Pastef. Everything changed for him when the party's firebrand leader, Ousmane Sonko, who was also detained, was charged with insurrection in July and barred from running in elections to succeed President Macky Sall. That cleared the way for Faye to emerge from the shadow of his former boss and eventually from prison, take over the race and on Monday - the day of his 44th birthday - emerge as the victor after his opponent conceded…

Mar

2024

By DIADIE BA and BATE FELIX

Opposition candidate Faye takes early lead in Senegal presidential polls

NEWS

EARLY results from Senegal's presidential vote put opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye ahead, sending his supporters to celebrate in the streets, though his main rival from the ruling coalition said a run-off will be needed to determine the winner. At least five of the 19 candidates in the race issued statements as results trickled after the election on Sunday, congratulating Faye. Former prime minister Amadou Ba, the ruling coalition's candidate, said however that celebrations were premature. "For our part, and considering the feedback of the results from our team of experts, we are certain that, in the worst case scenario,…