Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade | |
|---|---|
Wade in 2011 | |
| 3rd President of Senegal | |
| In office 1 April 2000 – 2 April 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Abdou Diouf |
| Succeeded by | Macky Sall |
| Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 31 July 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 May 1926 Kébémer, French Senegal (now Senegal) |
| Political party | Senegalese Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Karim |
Abdoulaye Wade (French pronunciation: [abdulaj wad], Wolof: Abdulaay Wàdd; born 29 May 1926) is a Senegalese politician who served as the third president of Senegal from 2000 to 2012. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), having led the party since it was founded in 1974. Assuming office at 74, Wade was the oldest person to occupy the post.
A long-time opposition leader, he ran for president four times, beginning in 1978, before he was finally elected in the year 2000. He won re-election in 2007 with a majority in the first round, but was defeated in the second round in 2012 in a controversial bid for a third term. Wade also holds French citizenship.