President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, on Wednesday announced opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, as prime minister.

This was as Faye pleaded systemic change after years of deadly turmoil in the country, as he took the presidential oath in front of hundreds of officials and several African heads of state at an exhibition centre in the new town of Diamniadio, near Dakar.

He then returned to the capital, with his motorcade greeted by hundreds of jubilant residents who lined the roads leading to the presidential palace.

Faye then returned to the capital, with his motorcade greeted by hundreds of jubilant residents who lined the roads leading to the presidential palace.

His predecessor, Macky Sall, therefore handed Faye the key to the presidential headquarters before leaving the palace.

Meanwhile, Faye had said earlier on Tuesday that; “Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,” Faye had said earlier in the day.