Luanda - The presidents of the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) take part in the inauguration ceremony of Senegal's new head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in Dakar on Tuesday.
According to a press release, Senegal invited the ambassadors accredited to the country, representatives of the African Union, as well as Morocco and Mauritania, the countries that have applied to join ECOWAS.
Angola was represented by its ambassador to Senegal, Adão Pinto.
The ECOWAS member states are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Angola
Early on Saturday, the Angolan head of state, João Lourenço, congratulated the President-elect of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye.
"I have the immense pleasure of sending you my warmest congratulations on your victory in the presidential elections that took place last Sunday," reads a message published on the Facebook page of the Presidency of the Republic.
João Lourenço believes that Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye's victory confirms the rightness of the ideals of social justice and patriotism defended in his political project, which was voted by Senegalese voters.
"I am convinced that together we will create a new dynamic in our relations towards the affirmation of our sovereignty and the defense of the interests of our respective peoples," said the Angolan statesman.
He wished success to the President-elect of Senegal, expressing his "highest and fraternal consideration".
Elections
Aged 44, Bassirou Diomaye Faye is now the youngest President of Senegal and represents the first time in the country's history that an opposition candidate has been elected in the first round of presidential elections.
Released from prison 10 days before the vote, along with his mentor Ousmane Sonko, Diomaye Faye presented himself during the campaign as "the candidate of rupture", but advocated "national reconciliation".
Seven million Senegalese were called to the polls on March 24 to choose the new President, in an election in which its main protagonists did not vote.
Of the 16 men and one woman on the ballot paper, the two favorites (Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Amadou Ba) were the personal choices of two political figures excluded from the ballot, namely outgoing President Macky Sall and opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
Amadou Ba ran for the ruling coalition, Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY, United for Hope, in Wolof), made up of President Macky Sall's party, which promptly recognized his opponent's victory.
In his first public appearance since announcing his victory, Bassirou Faye promised that his country would continue to be "the safe and reliable ally" of any foreign partner "who is committed to virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation".
Senegal is a West African country with around 18 million inhabitants. VIC/AMP
