Senegal’s Faye appoints mentor Ousmane Sonko as prime minister

Bassirou Faye, president of Senegal, has appointed Ousmane Sonko as the country’s prime minister.

Faye announced Sonko’s appointment shortly after he was inagurated on Tuesday.

Many political analysts in Senegal believe that Faye is a protégé of Sonko.

Both men were jailed in the build-up to the presidential election, a move that was perceived as politically motivated, but were released weeks before the poll.

Sonko,  the leader of the main opposition Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF), was barred from contesting the election by the country’s supreme court.

After his ban, PASTEF endorsed Faye as the presidential candidate.

After his appointment, Sonko said he would present Faye with a full list of proposed ministerial appointments for approval.

“There will be no question of leaving him (Faye) alone to assume this heavy responsibility,” Sonko said.

Faye, who has never held a political office before, has promised to reverse years of economic decline recorded under Macky Sall, his predecessor.

The former tax collector has also promised to restore national sovereignty over key assets such as the oil, gas and fishing sectors.

Experts worry that his political inexperience may be worsened by a perceived subservience to Sonko who has been termed a firebrand politician.