Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch represented King Mohammed VI on Tuesday in Diamniadio near Dakar, at the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of Senegal's newly elected President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Aziz Akhannouch's trip to Senegal, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, follows royal instructions after the new president-elect invited the Sovereign to take part in the inauguration ceremony. Apart from the leaders of the sub-region, King Mohammed VI is the only head of state to have received such an invitation, which testifies to the depth of the bonds of fraternity, solidarity and consideration uniting Morocco and Senegal. It also testifies to the depth of the exceptional, multi-dimensional political, economic, cultural, social and spiritual partnership between the two countries. The swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of Senegal's new president took place in the presence of several heads of state and chairmen of the commissions of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who won the March 24 presidential election in the first round with 54.28% of the vote, well ahead of candidate Amadou Ba (35.79%), is Senegal's fifth President since the country gained independence in 1960.
