President Bola Tinubu is set to depart Abuja today (Tuesday) for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Faye.
This was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect Bassirou Faye.’
The inauguration ceremony of the 44-year-old President-elect will take place at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre. President Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will join other regional leaders to witness the event.
This visit marks President Tinubu’s first official trip to Senegal since assuming office, and he is visiting the country on the invitation of the Senegalese government.
Accompanying President Tinubu on the trip will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and other senior government officials. Upon the conclusion of the inauguration, President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria.
Senegal is the fifth African country that President Tinubu has visited since assuming office 10 months ago, making it his 17th foreign destination.
President Tinubu congratulated President-elect Faye last week on his victory, highlighting the successful elections in Senegal as a boost to ECOWAS’s campaign for democracy in the West African sub-region. He expressed optimism about President-elect Faye’s leadership, wishing him success in his new role.
Bassirou Faye emerged as Senegal’s President-elect following an unprecedented victory in the presidential election held on Sunday, March 24, 2024. The electoral commission reported a voter turnout of over 61 per cent, with more than seven million people registered to vote out of roughly 17 million Senegalese.
Preliminary results showed Faye securing about 53.7 per cent of the votes, while former Prime Minister and ruling coalition’s candidate, Amadou Ba, secured 36.2 per cent. Ba, who had the backing of incumbent President Sall, conceded defeat based on the preliminary results.
Faye, a protégé of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, has pledged to lead with humility, fight corruption, and protect Senegal from external interference. He has commended the other candidates for their sportsmanship and commitment to democratic values.
