Basirou Diomaye Faye was born in 1980 to a humble family in the Thies region near the capital, Dakar. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law and worked as an inspector in the General Tax Administration.
He served as Secretary-General of the “Patriots for Action, Ethics and Fraternity” (Pastif) party, led by opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. He ran for president while he was in prison and was released after the launch of the (French) election campaign.