Diomaye Faye: Meet Senegal’s youngest president

Diomaye Faye, was elected as the Senegal’s president weeks after being released from prison.

Here are facts you should know about him.

1. Faye was born on March 25, 1980, in Ndiaganiao, in the western department of M’Bour, Senegal.

2. He went to primary school in his village and undertook middle and high school in Mbour.

3. In 2000, Faye earned his baccalaureate (A university bachelor’s degree.)

4. He attained a Master’s degree in law in Dakar Cheikh Anta Diop University and subsequently cleared both competitive exams, enrolling at the National School of Administration of Senegal (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004.

5. He is 44 years old.

6. He is Senegal’s youngest President.

7. He took over from immediate past president Macky Sall.

8. He was the General Secretary of the banned party PASTEF.

9. He won the 2024 Senegalese presidential election in place of disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.

10. On 14 April 2023, Faye was apprehended as he exited his tax and property office on Rue de Thiong in Dakar.

11. 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.

12. Faye’s campaign was launched while he was still in detention.

13. He was a former tax inspector

14. He is Senegalese fifth president since independence from France in 1960.

15. He is the first president to openly admit to a polygamous marriage.

16. In the election, Faye received over 54% of the vote, making him the first opposition candidate to have won an election in the first round since Senegal’s independence in 1960.

17. In his inaugural address, Faye pledged to fight corruption and reform the economy.