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Senegal’s president-elect pledges to fight corruption after a stunning victory for the 44-year-old

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Published 6:13 AM

By BABACAR DIONE and JACK THOMPSON
Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal woke up to a new president-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax inspector and political novice. He was released from prison less than two weeks ago and inspired voters, many of them unemployed youth, with a promise to fight corruption and reform the economy. It’s a dramatic rise for the 44-year-old who is due to be the youngest leader of the West African nation. He was catapulted into a presidential campaign when he was backed by popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was barred barred from running due to a prior conviction. The election followed months of unrest when both Faye and Sonko were arrested last year and concerns that the president would seek an unconstitutional third term.

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