Senegal therefore has a new face since Sunday. For the first time in the country’s history he is an opposition candidate. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, presents himself as “the choice of rupture”, while wanting to reassure his foreign partners.
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Ten days ago, he was still in the jails of the Cap Manuel penitentiary. Imprisoned for criticizing his country’s judicial system, here he is free and elected, in the first round on Sunday March 24, at the head of a democracy of 18 million inhabitants.
His victory, barely recognized on Monday March 25 by his main opponent, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, wanted to reassure. “I would like to tell the international community (…) that Senegal will always hold its place, he said. It will remain the friendly country and the safe and reliable ally of any partner who engages in virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation.“.
Promote economic patriotism and renegotiate contracts with foreigners
Bassirou Diomaye Faye extols the merit of win-win partnerships. A follower of economic patriotism and a self-proclaimed sovereignist, he is committed to renegotiating mining contracts and fishing agreements concluded with foreign companies. He also did not rule out strengthening cooperation with Russia as Senegal prepares to exploit oil and gas this year.
Its allies, including France, will therefore closely scrutinize its very first measures. That didn’t stop Paris and Washington from rushing to congratulate him. The US State Department welcomes “a success of democracy“. Emmanuel Macron “looking forward to working with him”. It is an understatement to say that France, Senegal’s main economic partner, wishes to preserve stable relations with its former colony, in a region where its presence is considered increasingly undesirable, particularly by the juntas that took power in Mali. , in Burkina Faso and Niger.
Fight against corruption and the hyper-presidentialism of his predecessor
Domestically, he wants to limit the powers of the president, to put an end to the hyper-presidentialism of his predecessor Macky Sall, which according to him led to a “control of the executive over the legislative and judicial powers“, fight against corruption, get out of the CFA franc inherited from colonization, reduce the cost of living and better distribute wealth. After three years of crises and social tensions, the population, and in particular young people who mostly voted for are hungry for change. He must not disappoint them.