Senegal's new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has approved a new government of 25 ministers and five secretaries of state, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said, as quoted by media.
"The government set up here [...] is a breakaway government that embodies the project, a systemic transformation voted for by the Senegalese people," he said.
The list of ministers includes the names of some leaders of the PASTEF party, to which both the new president and prime minister belonged before it was dissolved last July by a decision of Senegal's Interior Ministry for "calling on its supporters to insurrection movements, which has led to serious consequences."
For instance, the party's vice president, Birame Souleye Diop, became the head of the country's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Yassine Fall, also vice president of PASTEF, was appointed as the foreign minister.
Among other PASTEF representatives, Malick Ndiaye was appointed Minister of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport, while Balla Moussa Fofana was appointed Minister of Urban and Rural Planning and Regional Development.
In addition to Fall, the government included three women who headed the Ministries of Fisheries, Family, and Culture.
Faye said on Friday that the government's priorities will include youth employment, lowering the cost of living and protecting human rights. The new president also announced audits of the oil, gas, and mining sectors of the economy and urged investors to contribute to the country's development.
The presidential elections in Senegal took place on March 24, although they were planned for February 25 but was postponed by the country's former leader Macky Sall.