France, May 29 -- Officially Abdoulaye Wade was born in Saint-Louis on 29 May 1926, the son of a wealthy merchant from Kebemer in the north of Senegal. His father had also been a tirailleur, a colonial rifleman who fought for the French army.

But historians remain divided on whether or not that was his true date of birth. The politician could be evasive when questioned about his exact age, leading some to suspect him of misrepresenting his years in order to prolong his career.

Pressed by French weekly magazine Jeune Afrique in 2014, he replied: "I'm 87. But let's say I'm 90 - so what? I'm in good health. My father died at 101. He fought in the Great War. My grandmother lived to 121. Longevity runs in my family. But I'm a Muslim, and I k...