Addressing students at Dakar University on Thursday, Sonko also slammed French President Emmanuel Macron for turning a blind eye to political "persecution" in Senegal.

Sonko, a firebrand former opposition leader, was at the center of a three-year stand-off with the government of former president Macky Sall that triggered bouts of deadly unrest.

The prime minister was among a group of opposition politicians freed from prison 10 days before the March 24 presidential ballot under an amnesty announced by Sall, who had tried to delay the vote.

While speaking to the students Sonko said, "cooperation must take into account Senegal’s sovereignty in both the monetary and security fields."

"We must ask ourselves the reasons why the French army still has many military bases in our country and their impact on our sovereignty and our strategic autonomy," Sonko said.

"I reiterate Senegal's wish to determine its course which is incompatible with the entrenched presence of foreign military bases," the prime minister added.

Sonko, who said he was addressing the students as the head of his party and not as prime minister, stressed he sought cooperation with other countries "based on mutual respect and the legitimate aspirations of every nation for sovereignty."

He said Macron's government had failed to denounce Sall's crackdown on opposition protests and dissent which led to dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests.

Macron had received and "congratulated" Sall at "the worst phase of the repression," Sonko said, adding, "this is an incitement to repression, an incitement to persecution."

Sonko hailed the appointment calling it a break from the past.

"The government set up here on April 5 is a breakaway government... that embodies the project, a systemic transformation voted for by the Senegalese people," he said.

The cabinet was approved by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, who was inaugurated on Tuesday and appointed Sonko, a key backer, as prime minister. Faye succeeded President Macky Sall, whose 12-year presidency saw a rising wave of public discontent.

The cabinet will be closely watched after Faye made radical campaign promises such as dropping the CFA franc West African common currency. He has slightly backtracked on that pledge, but this week the former tax inspector promised an audit of the oil, gas and mining sectors.

Key appointments include Cheikh Diba as finance minister. Diba was previously the finance ministry's director of budget programming. Abdourahmane Sarr was named economy minister.

The oil and energy ministry, a strategic position in a country that is due to start producing oil and gas in 2024, will be headed by Birame Souleye Diop. Souleye Diop was vice president of Sonko and Faye's now dissolved Pastef party.

Two generals were named interior and defense ministers. Ousmane Diagne, a former public prosecutor at the Dakar Court of Appeal, becomes justice minister.

The government included four women, who were handed the portfolios of foreign affairs, fisheries, family and youth and culture.

Sonko said on Friday the government's priorities would include employment for young people, lowering the cost of living and protecting human rights.

Sonko, 49, spearheaded Senegal's anti-establishment movement but endorsed Faye on the presidential ballot after he was barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction.

Senegal is facing a host of major challenges, including an official unemployment rate of 20 percent.

Some information in this report came from Reuters, AFP

Faye used his speech to also reassure investors that they are welcome to invest in Senegal.

The newly elected leader, the youngest in the nation’s history, reflected high hopes for change in Senegal after he defeated Amadou Ba, the former ruling coalition’s candidate by a landslide in the March 24 elections.

The audit of the three sectors is one of Faye’s first policy moves since his inauguration on Tuesday.

"The exploitation of our natural resources, which according to the constitution belong to the people, will receive particular attention from my government," Faye said.

"I will proceed with the disclosure of the effective ownership of extractive companies (and) with an audit of the mining, oil, and gas sector," he added.

The 44-year-old former tax inspector said, "investor rights will always be protected, as well as the interests of the state and the people."

Senegal's first offshore oil development is due to start production in mid-2024. The Sangomar oil and gas project operated by Woodside Energy is expected to produce about 100,000 barrels per day.

The relationship between Sonko and Faye strengthened as Senegal geared up to its elections and the opposition leaders were both released from prison two weeks before the polls. The move came after a political amnesty was announced by now former President Macky Sall.

Despite the release from prison, Sonko was barred from contesting in the nation’s elections due to a prior conviction. His supporters and other opposition leaders maintain that the legal challenges faced by the newly announced prime minister were aimed at blocking his participation in the polls.

In reaction to his barring, Sonko handpicked Faye to be the candidate representing an opposition coalition in the March 24 presidential race.

Experts say Sonko’s support catapulted Faye to presidency.

Sonko, a 49-year-old firebrand leader, is known for inspiring Senegalese youth who are frustrated with widespread unemployment and corruption among the nation’s ruling elite.

A former tax inspector, like Faye, the newly named prime minister has promised to deliver greater transparency and sovereignty for Senegal.

Aissata Sagna, a 39-year-old factor worker who worked on the president’s campaign, said Faye’s inauguration was “a day of celebration for us.”

Senegalese are facing high unemployment rates and food prices which were instigated by the war in Ukraine.

Faye and Sonko campaigned on promises to clean up corruption.

Ahead of the election, Senegal’s new president released a declaration of his assets and called on other candidates to do the same. It listed a home in Dakar and land outside the capital and in his small hometown.

Faye’s bank accounts totaled roughly $6,600. A practicing Muslim, he has two wives, both of whom were present at his inauguration.

Alione Tine, the founder of the Senegalese think tank Afrikajom Center, said the West African nation will pay attention to who he appoints to his cabinet.

Senegalese will analyze Faye’s administration “with a fine-tooth comb to see if they meet the demand for a break with the past,” he said.

Speaking to media after his appointment, Sonko said he would present Faye with a full list of proposed ministerial appointments for his approval.

"There will be no question of leaving him (Faye) alone to assume this heavy responsibility," Sonko said.

Information for this article was sourced from Associated Press and Reuters.

Faye’s main rival, former prime minister Amadou Ba, the candidate for the nation’s current governing coalition, garnered 35.79 percent of the votes, the provisional results showed.

Aliou Mamadou Dia, who came third out of 19 candidates officially on the list, won 2.8 percent of the vote, according to figures read out at the Dakar court by the president of the national vote counting commission, Amady Diouf.

Faye’s victory was clear after his opponents conceded and unofficial partial results were published. However, the margin of his victory was confirmed on Wednesday by the vote counting commission, which falls under Senegal’s judiciary.

The turnout for the 2024 presidential race was 61.3 percent – a statistic reflecting less people than those that voted in 2019 when outgoing President Macky Sall won his second term in office, but more than in 2012.

Faye, who won the presidential race 10-days after he was freed from prison, will officially be declared winner after his victory is validated by Senegal’s top constitutional body. This could happen in a few days.

Victory for the 44-year-old president-elect marks the first time since independence that a Senegalese opposition leader won the election in the first round.

Faye has received congratulations from his opponents, the outgoing president and the international community.

The African Union's observation mission on Wednesday commended the "political and democratic maturity of the Senegalese people (and) the generally peaceful political atmosphere of the presidential election."

U.S. officials echoed the AU's sentiments.

In a statement released to the media, including VOA, on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said “I congratulate Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his election as the next president of Senegal.”

“I send warm wishes to the Senegalese people, who have demonstrated that the right to vote – and have that vote counted – remains democracy’s threshold liberty,” Biden added.

The U.S. leader said Washington looks forward to strengthening its relationship with Dakar under Faye’s leadership.

The congratulatory messages, coupled with the official provisional results seem to clear the way for a swift handover from Sall to Faye.

Presidential candidates who wish to challenge Faye’s victory have 72-hours after the results are finalized to lodge an appeal with the Constitutional Council.

Senegal’s constitution dictates that if no appeals are made in this period, “the Council shall immediately proclaim the final results of the ballot.” But if an objection is made, the body has five days to rule and could, in theory, annul the election.

Faye, who will for the first time hold an elected position, is set to become Senegal’s fifth president. He has promised to restore national "sovereignty" and implement a program of "left-wing Pan-Africanism."

His election could herald a profound overhaul of Senegal’s institutions. On Monday, he pledged "to govern with humility, with transparency, and to fight corruption at all levels." He also said he would prioritize "national reconciliation," "rebuilding institutions" and "significantly reducing the cost of living."

While speaking on his approach towards foreign relations, Faye said his government "will remain a friendly country and a sure and reliable ally for any partner that engages with us in virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation."

Some information for this article was sourced from Agence France-Presse.

Faye is set to be declared Senegal’s next president after his main rival, Amadou Ba, the presidential candidate for the governing coalition, called him to concede defeat.

While delivering his speech, the president-elect thanked his opponents for respecting Senegal’s democratic tradition by recognizing his victory well before the announcing of official results.

"In electing me, the Senegalese people have decided on a break with a past," Faye told journalists in his first public appearance since the election, adding, "I promise to govern with humility and transparency."

The election marked the first since Senegal gained independence in 1960, where the incumbent was not running for re-election. It was also the first time that an opposition candidate won in the first round of voting.

Sall, the nation’s outgoing leader, did not stand after he served his constitutional two terms in office. He was among the leaders who called Faye to congratulate him on his victory while hailing "a victory for Senegalese democracy."

Ba, the candidate for the ruling coalition said he wishes Faye success "as the head of our country."

"The Senegalese people have reinforced the good health of our democracy," he said.

The United States echoed the sentiments passed by Sall and his hand-picked candidate, Ba.

"The commitment of the Senegalese people to the democratic process is part of the foundation of our deep friendship and strong bilateral ties," Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson said while speaking to reporters on Monday.

A peaceful transition of power in Senegal marks a boost for democracy in West Africa — a region which has experienced eight military coups since 2020.

Senegal's international bonds rose on reports that Faye was close to being declared a winner, reversing sharp falls from earlier in the day.

Senegalese hope the vote will bring stability and an economic boost after three years of unprecedented political turbulence and several waves of deadly anti-government protests.

"I am happy to see there is a wind of change," said an opposition supporter named Tall, who joined revelers during the night as street celebrations broke out in anticipation of Faye's victory.

Tall said, "it is wonderful because democracy has won. Many thought it would not happen."

The presidency will be Faye’s first time holding a nationally elected position. The 44-year-old ascended to the post after he was freed from prison alongside Ousmane Sonko, a firebrand leader who picked him to represent the opposition’s coalition.

Sonko turned to backing Faye as the opposition candidate after he was barred from running due to a defamation conviction which he argues was politically motivated.

After their release from jail this month, the opposition leaders jointly campaigned under the slogan "Diomaye is Sonko," promising to fight corruption and prioritize national economic interests. They were particularly popular among young voters in a country where more than 60% of people are under 25 and struggle to find jobs.

Faye said he will dedicate more state resources to help the nation’s youth.

The president-elect has also promised left-wing Pan-Africanism and to renegotiate gas and oil contracts, with Senegal due to start production on recently discovered oil and gas reserves later this year. Still, he sought to reassure investors that the country would respect its commitments.

Provisional results released on Monday showed Faye led the polls with approximately 53.7% and Amadou Ba - from the current ruling coalition - with 36.2% based on tallies from 90% of polling stations in the first-round vote, the electoral commission said.

The official results of the March 24 elections are expected to be announced by the Dakar appeals court on Friday.

Information for this article was sourced from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

The release of Sonko and Faye had been expected after Senegalese lawmakers passed an amnesty law on March 6. This was an attempt by authorities to ease tensions following their thwarted bid to postpone the vote initially scheduled for February 25.

The state broadcaster did not give further details, and it was not immediately clear where the opposition leaders were after their release.

Thousands of supporters massed in Dakar, the capital, to celebrate the news, chanting Sonko's name on the gridlocked street where he lives. Some lit flares, while others danced or tooted motorbike and car horns.

"We've been waiting for this day for so long. Prayed for it," said health worker Fatima, 52, who gave only her first name.

Fatima had rushed to join the crowd when she heard that the opposition leaders were free.

"I believe Sonko can change the country," she said.

Fatima’s sentiments were echoed by Ibrahima Kane, a Senegalese political analyst who says the release of the opposition leaders’ marks “a new page of our (Senegal’s) political history, especially during the election period.”

“I’m sure that the release of the candidate of the party and the leader of the party will really galvanize their followers, but also change the tone of the campaigns,” he added.

Sonko has called on his supporters to back Faye in the presidential race, a concern for other candidates as the opposition leader enjoys widespread support, particularly among young people who are frustrated with economic hardships and a lack of jobs in the West African country of 17 million.

Sonko’s dissolved Pastef party formed a coalition and picked Faye as a candidate in November.

This was in reaction to Sonko’s disqualification over a defamation conviction he said was politically motivated — allegations denied by authorities.

Faye, who previously was relatively unknown but also in detention, remains eligible because a ruling in a case against him is yet to be passed. He is linked to charges including defamation and contempt of court.

There are no public election opinion polls in Senegal, but Faye is seen as a strong contender among the 19 candidates vying to succeed President Macky Sall, who is stepping down on April 2, after two terms.

Earlier on Thursday, the head of Amnesty International Senegal, Seydi Gassama, said authorities had sought to limit Faye's electoral chances by keeping him in prison, seeing him as the main threat to the ruling coalition's candidate, Amadou Ba.

"It's really regrettable that we're at this point because ... it shows that we're not ready to organize a free and democratic election," Gassama said, prior to the release of Sonko and Faye.

Some information for this article was sourced from Reuters. VOA’s James Butty contributed to this article.