BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE – FROM PRISON TO PALACE, YOUNG AND RADICAL

44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected as the president of Senegal after running a successful presidential campaign in just 10 days after leaving prison under the opposition party PASTEF. Diomaye was elected on his 44th birthday gaining what many term as a presidential birthday present. Diomaye won on a first round which is not common for most candidates especially in African nations. Diomaye is now the youngest West African democratically elected president. In his first speech, Diomaye said his key areas of focus will include fighting corruption, reduction in cost of living, and that he will govern with humility and transparency. Diomaye also promised to do away with the French economic strangle in Senegal and West Africa in general key being the CFA franc currency pegged economy.