Born on 7 September 1935 in Louga, Abdou Diouf is a Senegalese statesman. He began his career in various ministerial cabinets. Very early on, he occupied high administrative positions in Senegal. On 11 December 1961, he was appointed governor of the Sine-Saloum region at the age of 26, then he became chief of staff to President Senghor in 1963, then secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic in 1964. On 1st January 1981, following the resignation of President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Abdou Diouf becomes the 2nd President of the Republic of Senegal. He lost power democratically in 2000 in favour of Abdoulaye Wade, one of the first peaceful political change in Africa. From 2003 to 2015, he became the Secretary General of Francophonie.