France, Sept. 25 -- Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Faye rejected suggestions that Sall has little chance of succeeding António Guterres, whose term ends on 31 December.

Faye also defended a $2.2 billion (€1.9 billion) aid programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September, as Senegal grapples with revelations of hidden debt and a financial burden far larger than it was a few years ago.

He urged members of his former party, Pastef, to show "patriotic behaviour" when an amended budget comes before MPs.

His interview with RFI and our sister channel France 24 also covered security ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, and relations between the Economic Com...