Meet Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the New President of Senegal
Early Life and Background
Bassirou
Diomaye Faye was born on March 25, 1980, in the village of Ndiaganiao in
Senegal's western M'Bour department. He hails from a working-class family. His
father, Samba Faye, was a longtime member of the Socialist Party of Senegal.
His grandfather served in the Troupes coloniales during World War II and was
sentenced to prison after disputes with colonial authorities over establishing
a local school.
Faye
attended local schools in Ndiaganiao and M'Bour for primary, middle, and high
school, earning his baccalaureate in 2000. He obtained a master's degree in law
from the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. Faye then completed competitive
exams, gaining admission to the National School of Administration and
Magistracy program in 2004. He chose a career as a tax inspector after
graduation.
Rise in Politics
After
becoming a tax inspector, Faye met Ousmane Sonko, who led the Autonomous Union
of Tax and Domain Agents trade union. In 2014, when Sonko founded the PASTEF
political party, Faye joined and ascended to executive leadership roles,
becoming a key strategist. He helped shape Sonko's platform for the 2019
presidential election, where Sonko placed third with 16% of votes.
In February
2021, following Sonko's arrest, Faye was appointed PASTEF's general secretary.
He was arrested himself in April 2023 on charges including defamation and
contempt related to comments about Sonko's legal proceedings, according to VOA News. PASTEF was dissolved that July.
Despite
being jailed, PASTEF endorsed Faye as an independent candidate for the 2024
presidential election after Sonko was disqualified. Released in March 2024,
Faye campaigned on anti-corruption efforts, renegotiating resource contracts,
judicial reforms, and enhancing military capabilities. His "Diomaye is
Sonko" slogan capitalized on Sonko's popularity among youth.
In
Senegal's March 24, 2024, presidential election, Faye won 54.28% of the vote, becoming the youngest elected
President in the country's history and its first opposition candidate to win
outright since independence. The Constitutional Council confirmed his victory
on March 29.
Bassirou Faye was sworn in on April 2,
2024, appointing Sonko
as prime minister. He quickly ordered audits of the mining, oil, and gas
sectors, signaling intentions to renegotiate terms with corporations in these
industries. Faye advocates system change through left-wing Pan-Africanism,
fighting corruption, potential monetary reforms like adopting a new currency,
enhancing judicial independence, combating inefficiency in the military, and
renegotiating energy contracts for more equitable distribution of profits.
Personal Life
Faye
practices polygamy as a devout Muslim. His first wife since 2009 is Marie Khone
Faye, with whom he has three sons and one daughter. In 2023, he took a second
wife, Absa Faye, though they have not had children yet. Faye is close friends
with Ousmane Sonko, even naming one of his sons Ousmane.
Ahead of
his presidency, Faye portrayed himself as a man of the people, highlighting his
humble roots and modest trappings of wealth, such as his asset holdings.
However, his decisive electoral victory has rapidly elevated him to one of
Senegal's most powerful and influential figures.
Political Positions, Policies and Agenda
President
Diomaye understands that he represents the voice of millions of young Africans
who have felt marginalized across the continent. He has already proclaimed his
belief in left-wing Pan-Africanism and a system overhaul to catalyze Senegal's
socio-economic transformation. Of course, such an ambitious agenda will call
for a raft of economic and regulatory reforms.
Faye kicked
off his presidency by ordering a top-down review of the nation's mining, oil,
and gas sectors. During this audit process, it is highly likely that his regime
will revisit the existing 50-50 revenue-sharing agreement for gas with
multinational firms like Kosmos and BP, as well as the neighboring government
of Mauritania.
However,
the reforms are not limited to extractive industries. Companies that supply
sports betting and online casino games will likely face more stringent
regulations and oversight, while importers and manufacturers may have to adapt
to revised customs and tax codes under Faye's tenure.
Faye is
also keen on eradicating the endemic political corruption and misuse of public
funds, which he believes has severely undermined Senegal's economic
development. Seeking greater autonomy, he has raised the possibility of
removing the CFA franc as the official currency if reforms cannot be
implemented regionally first.
On the
military front, Faye's defense plans include combating corruption within the
military ranks, raising morale through increased salaries, particularly for
lower-ranking personnel, and preventing the armed forces' involvement in
domestic politics. He also aims to bolster strategic air transport and rapid
deployment capabilities by procuring aircraft like the C-130.
President
Diomaye also wants to establish an independent judiciary outside executive
interference. He advocates transitioning from the existing Constitutional
Council to a constitutional court as the apex of the judiciary. He also
proposes whistleblower protections, abolishing discretionary political funds
for the executive branch, and enhanced accountability for special operations
and procurements.
Net Worth and Wealth
During his
campaign, Faye released a declaration stating he owns a home in Dakar, land
holdings outside the capital and in his native Ndiaganiao village, and around
$6,600 across his bank accounts. While major wealth trackers like Forbes have
not reported an exact net worth figure, analysts estimate Faye's net worth
ranges between $1 million and $5 million from his decades-long public service
and political activities. Some political observers have sought to present Faye
as a self-made man in touch with the working class despite his newly acquired
wealth and stature as President.
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