25/03/2024
SENEGAL: A SHINING EXAMPLE OF AFRICA'S ENDURING DEMOCRACY
The fact that Senegalese were able to sustain their democracy against all odds by voting into power, the leading opposition party, the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), a party or movement founded in 2014 by young Senegalese, Ousmane Sonko, who was incarcerated by the outgoing government of President Macky Sall, for his open criticism of Sall's government, is a great relief and assurance that all hope is not lost for Africa and Africans.
Although, not able to be on the ballot because of his disqualification from standing in the election for a defamation conviction, Ousman Sonko's PASTEF put up the candidacy of yet another vibrant young Senegalese, a 44 year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax inspector like Sonko, who has won the Sunday, March 24, 2024, presidential election.
The Senegalese President-Elect, Mr. B. D. Faye and his left-wing party, PASTEF, promised to address persistent poverty and unemployment among the youths who constitute more than 60% of the country's population, fight corruption, restore stability and prioritize economic sovereignty from undue influence of France, Senegal's colonial master.
A few hours ago, the governing coalition’s candidate and former Prime Minister, Mr. Amadou Ba, conceded defeat to Faye.
The out-going President Macky Sall announced election postponement earlier this year but the insistence of Senegalese and pressures from regional and international community forced the Constitutional Council to overrode the Presidential Decree.
One interesting thing about Faye's victory is that he was just released from prison and thrust into the centre of Senegalese presidential politics just about a week ago along with his firebrand mentor, a 49 year-old Ousmane Sonko.
I hope the Giant of Africa is watching closely events of the last 24 hours in a neighbouring West African country🙄?
Congratulations to the people of Senegal ✊
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