World music figure Youssou Ndour has been named Senegal's minister for culture and tourism.

The announcement of President Macky Sall's new government was made late yesterday, two days after his inauguration ceremony.

Earlier this year, Mr Ndour himself launched a failed bid for the presidency and later threw his support behind Mr Sall.

Senegal's new president won a run-off election by a large margin, ousting an incumbent of 12 years.

Mr Ndour, a Grammy-winning singer who is enormously popular in his home country, had turned in an application to run for president but was disqualified due to a lack of valid signatures.

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