Senegalese President, Basirou Diomaye Faye, Africa’s youngest head of state at 44, has been tasked with reunifying the Economic Community of West African States by bringing back Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The three countries left ECOWAS after military takeovers and formed their own alliance.
As a peace envoy supported by Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, Faye’s mission is to woo the three nations back to ECOWAS.
His age and leadership style may be assets in this endeavor, as he represents a departure from the old guard and has been elected in a credible poll, according to ABC News.
However, the task won’t be easy, as the military leaders have concerns about ECOWAS’s operations and perceived interference from foreign countries like France.
Faye’s success will depend on his ability to coordinate with other leaders and address these concerns.
This opportunity also allows Faye to push for reforms towards a more sustainable and self-reliant ECOWAS.
Senegal is renegotiating contracts with foreign operators and aiming to reduce dependency in public policies, aligning with the junta leaders’ goals.
The outcome will have significant implications for West Africa’s security and economic collaboration, as well as the region’s relationships with global powers like Russia and France.
At Sunday’s ECOWAS meeting in Nigeria, Faye was still among the youngest. Sitting across him was Ghana President Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, who at 80 is just four years younger than Faye’s father.
When he visited Nigeria in May, the Senegalese leader touted his age as an “asset” that can help open a window for dialogue with the neighbours.
“Like the other heads of state, he (Faye) claims sovereignty and a break with the old order,” said Seidik Abba, a Sahel specialist and president of the International Center for Reflection for Studies.
At home, Faye is reviewing the old ties that the junta leaders claim have stifled West Africa’s development, though Senegal remains a key ally for the West. Under Faye’s leadership, Senegalese officials are renegotiating contracts with foreign operators in the country and, according to Finance Minister Abdourahmane Sarr, are “aiming to free ourselves from the ties of dependency in our public policies.”
