“Under my leadership, Senegal will be a country of hope, a country at peace with an independent justice system and a strengthened Democracy.”- words elicited by the Youngest Senegal President – Bassirou Diomaye Faye during his oath taking ceremony on April 2nd.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a leftwing, pan – Africanism was sworn as Senegal’s youngest President on April 2nd. After years of economic turmoil, his pledge guaranteeing Africa, its socio-economic progress and prosperity was met with moist eyes and a thunderous applause.
A week ago, the 44-year old won a landslide victory in the Senegal Presidential elections outnumbering his opponent, Amadou Ba, of the ruling APR.
A country with a population of 1.8 million, where 50% constitute a young workforce, Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s victory surely is a ray of hope for millions of economically deprived and emotionally frustrated young Africans.
Happy End to a Long Fight
Just 10 days before the result announcement, Mr. Faye was released from prison where he was detained without trial, on charges of defamation and inciting insurrection which was met with a nationwide outcry.
His apprehension was casted by the government of the former incumbent President Macky Sall who used his unchecked power to disrupt electoral harmony at a time when his populist strategies were draining in consequence to growing discontent.
In a desperate bid to avert defeat, Macky Sall tyrannized political leaders of the Opposition groups who voiced their resentment. These events lead many political analysts to presume the death of Senegal’s Democracy.
Many of his measures were directed towards the members of the main Opposition Party – the African Patriots Of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef). The pace of popular support that Pastef was retrieving had the ruling party concerned. The secretary-general of Pastef whose radical reforms had the Senegalese off their feat was Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The disconcerted Senegalese had their frustration boil and finally explode after years of unsystematic economic management. The desperation for administrative change was sky-high.
It was during this growing discouragement among the fellow Senegalese that Pastef rose to popular support. What began as a party rooted in change and reformation, it soon grew to galvanize the oppressed, reaching the far rural pockets.
Nine years since Pastef was founded, it was last year, when a ban was pronounced on its existence. The dissolution came in the light of in-ruling party leaders fearing its unstoppable magnification. Despite the allegations thrusted on party members for ramping violence in the country, Pastef continued its operations.
An Army of Support for Faye’s Leadership
Pastef which became a symbol of dissent was operated by leaders who held strong opinions about the loopholes which paralyzed Senegal.
Followed by Mr. Faye’s growing influence, leaders of Opposition from surrounding countries such as Angola, Uganda and Zimbabwe engaged in a cognizable drive to strategize means to vanquish the growing tide of authoritarianism, military dictatorships and repressed democracies where electoral votes are abused for self-preservation.
A congregation of political institutions, journalists, civil societies, social groups and opposition leaders came together as a unit to fight the perpetual abuse of power by Senegal government. This battalion of roaring dreamers worked selflessly to arouse Senegalese spirits, empowering their thoughts with democratic stories.
Through their work, they ensured the world knew about Senegal and the marginalization the Senegalese citizens suffer due to government repression and human rights violations, increasing the pressure on President Sall to back down.
These efforts weighed heavy on Macky Sall as it eventually led to the ultimate release of Mr. Faye from jail, only to strengthen his already stimulating public image.
It was an Army of peacemakers which lead Mr. Faye to his subsequent triumph.
His spectacular victory is a reminder to the corrupt, power-thirsty leaders to avoid abuse of power for self-preservation. If rectifications are not induced timely, the consequences are going to be severe.
“Only if one engineers true change can one hold an administrative office.”
