President of Senegal declares assets public, encouraging African leaders to follow in Faye’s footsteps

President of Senegal declares assets public, encouraging African leaders to follow in Faye’s footsteps.

A civil society organization called CHRICED has urged African leaders to follow the example of Senegal’s new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, by publicly declaring their assets. Faye, who is 44 years old, recently won the presidential election in Senegal and is now the youngest democratically elected President in West Africa.

As a candidate of the opposition party PASTEF, Faye secured 54.3% of the votes, defeating his main rival from the governing coalition. Faye has already made his assets known to the public through a publication on his Facebook page, which includes details of his properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and liabilities. By promoting transparency and accountability, Faye’s actions serve as an inspiration for other African leaders to follow suit.

The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, expressed appreciation for President Faye’s decision to publicly disclose his assets, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.

CHRICED highlighted the significance of leaders setting an example by openly declaring their assets to build trust with the public and deter corrupt practices, stressing that transparency in asset declaration is crucial for preventing conflicts of interest and ensuring officials act in the people’s best interests.

The organization commended President Faye for his commitment to transparency and accountability, urging other ECOWAS leaders to emulate his actions to promote good governance and maintain the trust of the citizens. Additionally, CHRICED encouraged Faye to uphold transparent, accountable, and responsible leadership, especially with the newfound oil reserves in Senegal that could significantly impact the country’s revenue.

CHRICED has highlighted the perception of many West African citizens and residents that ECOWAS is primarily a club for presidents to protect and preserve their own interests.

They believe that the appointment of President Faye presents an opportunity for the voices of young Africans to be heard in the governance and administration of the ECOWAS Commission. CHRICED has called on President Faye to prioritize the revival of ECOWAS, which was originally established to promote free movement and economic partnership in the region.

They argue that poor leadership and internal political challenges have hindered the fulfillment of the Commission’s reforms and the realization of a united community.

The region continues to face issues such as corruption, lack of accountability, poverty, unemployment, inequality, and insecurity, which threaten democracy. CHRICED expresses hope that President Faye will demonstrate the necessary determination to influence and guide ECOWAS towards its original vision and the needs of the people in the region.