Nigeria, March 27 -- As I delved into news report of President-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye's election in Senegal, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. "For the first time in history, Africa elects a 44-year-old". I couldn't help but recall a conversation with my Liberian mentor, Eddie Jarwolo, who served as an ECOWAS Observer during the 25th March Senegalese election. His vivid account of the passion and vigour exhibited by Senegal's youth transported me to the bustling streets of Dakar, where I could feel the pulse of the people echoing through the air. It was a fervour reminiscent of the energy pulsating through football stadiums during the AFCON 2024 tournament.

The enthusiasm displayed by the Senegalese youth was not merely a fleeting...