Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was present at the inauguration ceremony of Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held in Dakar on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
He was among many foreign heads of state and dignitaries who graced the colorful inauguration ceremony that came just 9 days after the dramatic election.
Over a dozen heads of state and regional representatives attended the inauguration, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The Nigerian Presidency shared images of President Tinubu congratulating and felicitating with the newly sworn-in Senegalese leader after the inauguration event.
“President Bola Tinubu felicitating with Senegalese President, Bassirou Faye at President Faye’s inauguration in Dakar, Senegal today, 02 April 2024,” read the statement accompanying the photos.
The two West African nations share economic ties as well as coordination on regional matters as prominent members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Faye, a former opposition figure, achieved a stunning electoral victory in March, riding on a reformist agenda. At 44 years old, he becomes Senegal’s youngest president in history.
In his inaugural speech, Faye vowed to uphold Senegal’s constitution, defend democratic institutions, and pursue efforts towards greater African unity and integration.
His assumption of the presidency is expected to lead to close engagement with his counterparts in the region, like Tinubu, on bilateral and multilateral issues affecting West Africa, in a bid to build stronger African unity.
