VIDEO | Does the new Senegal president have two first ladies? Here’s the truth
43-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye will be leading Senegal now
The west African nation of Senegal recently elected its new president, the youngest in the country’s history. The 43-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye will be leading the nation now, replacing incumbent Macky Sall. Now, a video apparently showing two wives of Bassirou Diomaye Faye sitting together at an event is going viral on social media, prompting users to ask this question: Does the new president have two wives or two first ladies?
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The rumours are indeed true! Bassirou Diomaye Faye is a practising Muslim and has two wives. According to his elder brother Ibrahima Faye, “Being married to two wives is a sign of responsibility. He’s very proud of being polygamous, and he doesn’t hide it.”
It must be noted that Polygamy is common in Senegal, especially among his ethnic group, the Serer.
Faye has four children with his first wife. The president-elect married his second wife last year, who lives and works in France.
The little-known president
Initial results on Tuesday (Mar 26) showed Faye won with at least 54 per cent support. Interestingly, he was released from prison just 10 days ahead of the poll. Prior to becoming the president, Faye had onlyrun for mayor from his hometown, Ndiaganiao.
He was sent to jail last year in April over a Facebook post criticising the government of Macky Sall. Faye had targeted the government for its persecution of Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s top opposition leader.
Macky Sall tried to cancel the duo but widespread anger, protests and campaigns defeated his efforts.
Owing to the increasing pressure and exacerbating frustration among the public, the incumbent president announced political amnesty for the duo on March 14.
Watch:Senegal Election 2024: Two tax inspectors emerge as frontrunners in Senegal polls
The pair hit the campaign trail together, almost immediately as they were released.
Sonko named Faye as his proxy in the elections as he was barred from running for office after he was convicted of defamation and of corrupting a minor (he had been accused of rape but was acquitted on those charges).