Credendo

03 May 2024:

➦ Senegal: Will young reformist president live up to great expectations?

• Following months of historic violent political unrest, the postponed presidential elections were held in March 2024. During these elections, the opposition managed to book a landslide victory. Former tax-collector and transparency activist Diomaye Faye won the presidency, and his mentor Ousmane Sonko became Senegal’s new prime minister. During the unfolding of the recent political crisis, both Sonko and Faye were freed from prison as part of an amnesty deal. They had been imprisoned over defamation and online criticism of the former government last year. This specific ending to a deep constitutional crisis has proved the strength of Senegal’s institutions and civil society as democracy prevailed in a region ravaged by democratic decay and military coups.