POLITICS
SENEGAL: War against Covid-19: Macky, a Heckled General
Having yielded to pressure from part of the Confederate authorities, President Macky Sall was repudiated by the other part of the religious power and the actors of the school. Starting from a strong consensus to lead the war against Covid-19, General Macky eventually lost control of the troop. By Babacar WILLANE
For someone who had every chance on his side, it begs the question of how President Macky Sall ended up so alone in the battle against Covid-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Head of State managed to unite radical and moderate opposition, civil society, in short all the living forces of the nation around his person. The National Assembly gave him carte blanche, with the enabling legislation that allows him to manage as he pleases.
But, in less than two months, the general (clumsy?) has exhausted all his cartridges.
Today, his authority is more flouted than ever, his image diminished. The head of state looks like a commander who has lost control of the troop, while the country is in the middle of a war against the new coronavirus.
Everything started from the pressure exerted on him by the religious and the informal sector. The decision to close the mosques became increasingly unpopular. A Seneweb source even indicates that some religious homes were ready to make the forced, because it was not a question for them to spend the Night of Destiny (Laylatoul Khadri) outside the mosques.
It was therefore necessary that the places of worship be opened again, at the latest before the last 10 days of Ramadan. Moreover, it is not for nothing that the Head of State has advanced his speech of 24 hours (Monday instead of Tuesday). Otherwise, he might be faced with accomplished act.
In economic terms, the informal sector accounts for more than 80% of activity. The decision of the Prefect of Dakar to close the markets in an alternative way could hardly prosper. Especially that the sellers of non-food products – mainly young people – had only 2 days in the week. Which was unbearable.
“You can’t stay five days without work. We give the state an ultimatum. If by Monday (May 11) the situation does not change, we will resume our activities willingly or forcibly”, threatened last Saturday the young merchants of the Dior market of Parcelles-Assainies.
Faced with this pressure and the risks of a social and religious revolt, the supreme leader of the armies surrendered. On Monday, April 11, Macky Sall announced the reopening of mosques and markets.
A poorly negotiated turning point
Only, instead of saving the face of the president, the measure has come to bury him. In fact, since then, the religious leaders’ outings have multiplied, disavowing the head of state. The Church was the first to stand out. The clergy quickly indicated that it would keep its places of worship closed, as a precautionary measure. She will be followed by the Omarian family.
Even the imam of the Great Mosque of Dakar, against the closure in the beginning, has issued a statement to say that the doors of the building will remain closed. The same goes for the Great Mosque of Saint Louis. And as to say that the closure has gone to be majority, the Khalifa General of Tidianes has also decided that all mosques under his authority will remain closed. On the Ibadous side, Al Falah has not yet determined.
In the end, for the city of Dakar, only Massalikul Jinaan will be open, among the major mosques of the capital.
In total, this decision of the religious authorities sounds like a disavowal to the head of state. Thus, after capitulating to the pressure of one part of the religious power, President Macky Sall saw the other side taking the opposite step of its decision to open the mosques.
Besides the religious, presidential decisions are also contested by the school world. Teachers, students and even parents rejected the reopening of schools on June 2. In the end, the president seems to be alone against all.
Communication dissonance
According to Alioune Tine, founder of the Africa Jom Center, the head of state badly negotiated the turning point of deconfinement with all the influential actors concerned. “When we had fewer deaths and cases, we were confined. And now that it is worse, we screw up without a good preparation of the opinion. The result is the discomfort of the caregivers, the anger of the public and some political parties,” he stresses.
Same analysis from Sahite Gaye, Phd in Information and Communication Sciences. In the opinion of this specialist, this imbroglio is explained by the fact that in terms of communication, last Monday’s speech is the most ‘clivant’ since the beginning of the crisis. “The last speech is not consistent with the one at the beginning. There is a communicational dissonance with perception,” he stresses.
According to the teacher-researcher at Cesti, in a crisis situation, we do not have the same audience. The audiences are plural, depending on the interests. For example, those calling for open markets do not have the same objectives as those calling for the reopening of mosques, nor do those calling for the continued closure of schools. There is therefore a need for targeted communication.” “Wasn’t there supposed to be a process to discuss with the public that could impact communication? “, asks Sahite Gaye, who adds that the decision-making process was not coherent.
“In a crisis, it is perception that is important”
According to Alioune Tine, it is a tendency in Africa to deconfine. A novelty following the action of intellectuals who recommended to the heads of state of the continent not to sacrifice the economy, the informal sector in particular. Only, regrets the former boss of the Raddho, the method does not always fit. ” Instead of creating consultation with these different actors to negotiate the deconfinement together, we saw the consultation of the religious leaders who exerted strong pressure on the president, to the point of forcing him to anticipate his speech by fleeing certain decisions” said Tine.
Added to this is the break of equality between faithful citizens, knowing that mosques in Touba and Medina Gounass were open, while others were closed in Dakar and elsewhere.
The result is that the President’s grip is undermined. “Clearly, there is an erosion of state authority that gives the impression of yielding to pressure,” says Mr Tine. As did his authority, so did his image. “Just look at the next day’s newspapers with headlines like “Macky Sall threw the mask”, “The President capitulated”, adds Sahite Gaye.
According to the teacher-researcher, the hesitations of an authority, in some exceptional circumstances, weaken public speech. “In a crisis, perception is important. This is why what has happened can even have an impact on future decisions, especially since we have not yet come out of the crisis,” Mr Gaye worries.
Rethinking the institutions
In any case, the reopening of the mosques has finished dividing the Muslim community and weakening state authority. This makes Alioune Tine say that these are the two pillars that cement the Senegalese life-together, since the election of Blaise Diagne, which are at stake, namely: politics and religion.
“Politics no longer makes sense, no more vision of the world, no more ideology, no more ethics. This impacts the erosion of authority and legitimacy. Brotherhood Islam is increasingly divided. Radical Islam, together with terrorist organizations in some countries, is a factor of instability and deadly conflict,’ he said.
Hence the need, in his opinion, to rethink the institutions after Covid-19, to get out of the instrumentalisation of politics and religion, in order to build a new world pledge of stability.
Source : SeneWeb / By Babacar WILLANE
POLITICS
SENEGAL Moussa Tine: “We launch a solemn appeal to the diaspora for the International Exhibition of Investment of the African Diaspora – SIDIA
Exclusive interview with Moussa Tine, the Director General of Urbanism and Habit. From September 26 to 28, 2025, at the Domaine de Choully, Africa – and particularly Senegal goes to meet its diaspora. For three days, the event will bring together several hundred entrepreneurs, including 30 from Senegal, investors, policy makers and artists. It is an unprecedented exhibition that brings together strategic sectors such as housing, agriculture, but also industry and commerce.
Why involve the diaspora and why organize this International Diaspora Investment Fair? Why this fair?
This exhibition today is a moment of exchange, an indispensable meeting point for government policy and particularly the policy of these three sectors, namely housing, construction, agriculture, industry and commerce. It is these three ministries that bring together their strategies, their strengths, to go out to meet the diaspora. The diaspora plays a decisive, extremely important role in the country’s economy and in its socio-economic stability. It is an important moment, a decisive moment, a moment that will also help us to financially complete a number of projects that are underway, but also to give the opportunity to the nationals of the diaspora to contribute to the development of their country. Each ministry today develops projects and this fair is an opportunity to give the diaspora the necessary information, either to integrate these projects or to collaborate with the State in the context of public-private partnerships or direct investments under the auspices of the State. Here is, in a global manner, the object of the exhibition. Today, this the exhibition is a decisive moment, an important one, with challenges defined across the three sectors I have just mentioned.
Thus, what is the economic weight of the diaspora?
The weight of the diaspora is well established. Today, it plays a decisive role in our economy. The diaspora is strong and economically involved, not only in a family way, but also through local and international initiatives. Therefore, involving the diaspora means redefining its role in a strategic way, which must no longer be limited to family support but contribute directly to the development of the country. This can be done through financial investment projects through programmes structured by the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Spatial Planning. I take the example of the PNALRU (National Program for Access to Housing), a project designed and led by the Ministry of Urbanism. We know that most of our fellow citizens in the diaspora have a house or housing project because they want to invest in their home. But often, they do not have the necessary information to do it in a secure way, nor quality support. Projects like the PNALRU offer a secure framework at the level of land, construction, but also marketing, in a transparent manner. These are projects that the State has implemented and which allow the diaspora to have easier access to land, and to participate directly in the national economy. The diaspora complains about not having enough information on state initiatives. This exhibition is a way to reach out to her, to provide as much information as possible about ongoing projects and integration modalities. We know that a part of the diaspora already has the initiative to return or to work in collaboration with the State. This show will therefore be a B2B meeting, a space where the diaspora and the State will be able to meet, establish collaborative relationships, and create what I often call a “return ticket”, that is to say an opportunity for many Senegalese to prepare for a secure and planned return.
Mr. Director, what is the direct message you send to the diaspora, especially to that of Geneva, because the exhibition will take place there?
Yes, the exhibition will be held in Geneva. This choice does not come by chance. Geneva is a financial capital and a business hub. Organizing it there highlights a decisive point in the outcome of projects: the financial dimension and the technical dimension. The objective is that from this exhibition, not only do we provide the necessary information to the diaspora, but also that we mobilize its capital to encourage it to invest in real estate, agriculture and industry. Each ministry will present development projects that the diaspora can appropriate, whether in housing, agriculture or industry. These sectors are linked: industry supports habitat, habitat needs building materials, and agriculture requires infrastructure. This sectoral transversality will allow for maximum opportunities to be created for the diaspora. In Geneva, for three days, we will have exchanges, panels, permanent exhibitions (more than 30 planned), and B2B meetings between the state, professionals, the diaspora, and the private sector. The aim is to mobilize investors, experts and promoters to implement joint projects.
Who are the partners of this project?
In Senegal, we have the Ministry of Urbanism, Territorial Collectivities and Spatial Planning, which leads, with the Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture as co-organizers. We also work in partnership with Me Events, a structure specialized in the organization of events, and with partners in Geneva, such as the African Village Association and Afrique Néon.
Mr. Director, to conclude, what message do you want to send to the Senegalese in the diaspora?
I take this opportunity to make a solemn appeal to all our fellow citizens of the diaspora. This exhibition is made for you. Its objective is clear: to mobilize the diaspora, not only for its expertise, but also for its investments. Invest in yourself. Invest in Senegal. Invest in Africa. This fair is yours, make it your own, and make it a channel for communication and development. The success of this exhibition will be the success of the national policy towards the diaspora. Senegal comes to you, your country comes to you, in order to discuss your projects and those we develop here. Come in large numbers, because together we can ensure inclusive development where every contribution counts. Thank you and I hope to see you very soon at the Geneva exhibition, from September 26 to 28.
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, received this Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Conakry a delegation from the African Union, on an official visit to Guinea. On this occasion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the transitional authorities to respect the deadlines set for the return to constitutional order, while stressing the historical and central role of Guinea in the construction of the Pan-African project.
« I am very happy. The African Union is at Guinea’s side to accompany and support the vision of the head of state, President Mamadi Doumbouya, in favor of Guinea and Africa, in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields, declared the head of Guinean diplomacy.
This meeting takes place in a context marked by the preparations for the constitutional referendum scheduled for next September 21.
Morissanda Kouyaté also recalled the founding involvement of Guinea in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union. “This visit materializes the commitment of the Peace and Security Council to accompany Guinea in a dynamic of ambitious political and diplomatic transformation,” he stressed.
The minister indicated that all actions related to the transition are currently funded by the national development budget, while calling for a broader mobilization of the international community. “We have requested a round table, called the Basketfront, to seek support to speed up the process. But this does not mean that we will give up,” he said, reiterating President Doumbouya’s willingness to scrupulously respect the scheduled deadlines.
He finally wanted to reassure on the efforts made to ensure an inclusive electoral process. “We are going through a difficult period, and that is why we want all Guineans to be registered in order to obtain a reliable electoral roll,” concluded Morissanda Kouyaté.
Source: guinee360 / Photo credit: Page Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guinea
