A LA UNE
SENEGAL: “Sweet Beauty”‘case, a defiled democracy, By SenePlus’s columnist Boubacar Boris Diop

The paradox of the current events is that while they are serious, they look like a grotesque farce. The feeling that Macky Sall is setting no limits is worrisome. Reacting hot is rarely a good idea. One can understand that, in the heat of the action, politicians are forced to do so almost all the time: in a way, the slightest doubt can be fatal to them. But today, with the “Sweet Beauty” affair, the republican ethic is so ridiculed that the urgency of sounding the alarm is also imposed, and urgently, to all. By Boubacar Boris Diop
The paradox of the current events is that while they are serious, they look like a grotesque farce. Thus, the most watched man in Senegal, so wary that he never registers a suitcase in the hold during his plane trips, would have chosen a public place to rape, weapons in hand, a young masseuse of 21 years. She claims to have been sexually abused on several occasions in this place where surveillance cameras are installed, we are told. But above all, not once has the accuser of the leader of Pastef been heard calling for help or struggling to put an end to his “ordeal”. After all, the incriminating facts are supposed to have taken place in a house that does not look very big and where live a dozen people, including the family of the owner of the Sweet Beauty.
Fortunately for Sonko, the apprentice-sorcerers with a slightly disturbed mind did not foresee that the latter would not enter their game. His speech, with remarkable clarity, showed that cynical people lurking in the shadows exploited the inexperience – not to mention the psychological fragility of Adja Raby Sarr – and his financial distress, to destroy a man more perceived as a mortal enemy than as a mere political adversary.
The height of amateurism was to imagine that, in our country as it stands, such a case could remain strictly private. It only took a few hours for it to become so political that it relegated all the other subjects of national life, including a pandemic each day that is a little more lethal. The polarization, in a context of deaf popular discontent, is obviously at the expense of the Macky Sall regime. We don’t see with such a bad start what miracle his henchmen could convince anyone of Sonko’s guilt. In any case, whatever their alleged evidence, it will be rejected with contempt by the court of opinion, the only one that works in a democratic country. Nor is it necessary to be a Sonko supporter to guess that the leader of Pastef will emerge politely strengthened from this event. The support that converges on him from all sides will not contribute much to legitimize him as a major political figure. Until now its political importance was mainly due to the impetus of a youth which had made it the depository of its hopes. Here it is, perhaps earlier than expected, taking the thickness of an essential actor of the public scene.
But in these times of high social tension, what is at stake goes far beyond the political destiny of such or such individuality. This is the dignity of Senegalese democracy, whose values are so joyfully trampled upon. The truth is that those who should have protected it are simply soiling it. No obscenity or oddity is lacking in the appeal: it is a question of a woman raped, very real but become a ghost immediately her complaint lodged; of the sperm of an honest father of family – let us forget for a moment the politician – conveyed nightly, apparentlyhe went to a laboratory; to a massage parlour owner who was the victim of moral torture and attempted corruption to make him change his testimony; to a Public Prosecutor, Bassirou Guèye, of a relentless docility to political authority; the perfectly illegal summoning of Deputy Ousmane Sonko to the “Research Section”, that is to say in contempt of his parliamentary immunity; and, equally illegally, the encirclement of his home by tanks of combat.
As if all this were not enough, the National Assembly is convened this Thursday, February 11, 2021 to deliver it to justice that, as sad as it is terrible, the litigants no longer take seriously.
The total control of the Executive over the Judiciary and the Legislative shows that in this country, all the powers are concentrated in the hands of one man, the President of the Republic. These institutions are supposed to constitute a triangle, but this one is of a very particular kind in that it has only one side.
Senegal is not, however, the awful dictatorship that some complain to portray, and in any case, this pervasive presidentialism is not new. However, it has never been so dangerous and caricatural. The feeling that President Macky Sall is not setting any limits is quite worrisome. By acting in such a cavalier manner, he shows how little attention he pays not only to the common Senegalese but also to his allies.
This last point deserves a moment’s attention.
Some of Macky Sall’s companions are known and respected for having fought their lives for the progress and sovereignty of Senegal. Whether they decided at some point to support Macky Sall doesn’t really matter: the real political life is made up of these back and forth and cross-breeds, it’s only the delicious chaos of political politics in the Tropics. Nothing too bad about it. What remains more difficult to accept is that such far-sighted intellectuals of great strength of character give today – on the outside at least – the impression of being literally paralyzed in front of the Head of State. In a normal situation, it should be able to say from time to time that there is a red line that some of its allies, regardless of their electoral weight, would not allow it to cross. The Ubuesque situation we have been living in for a few days is typical of a country where no one dares to whisper the slightest reservation in the boss’s ear.
And it’s not that nobody wants to. Indeed, it may well be that even in his party, executives and activists, regardless of their hostility to Ousmane Sonko – one can perfectly understand it – are embarrassed to see their leader shoot themselves so often in the foot.
To explain his erratic behavior, several precedents are quoted these days, from Karim Wade to Aminata Touré, passing by Khalifa Sall, all suspected of eyeing the presidential chair, a serious crime if it is. Someone should have told the President that the jug is going to the water and in the end it is going to break. The clumsy attempt to eliminate Sonko, doomed to failure, risks reminding him bitterly. The leader of Pastef could take advantage of the feeling increasingly shared that too much is too much.
It is possible that the strategists of the power have wanted, by this provocation, to test the capacities of resistance of Pastef, to ensure that, as the propaganda of the regime repeats it enviously, that it is only “the party of social networks”. The result must have been disappointing: in a very short time, Senegal found itself in an almost insurrectionary situation not only in certain Dakar neighbourhoods but also in cities such as Louga, Bignona, Mbour and Ziguinchor, this list is very likely to grow if we do not put an end to this trousers as quickly as possible. Last but not least, the beginning of internationalization that we are witnessing makes political sense in view of the love coast of Pastef in the diaspora.
In short, this inconclusive experiment should bring Macky Sall to his senses. Above all, it gives him an unpleasant foretaste of the serious obstacles he will have to overcome to impose a third candidacy. It will simply be mission impossible, even if the examples of Ouattara and Condé could incite him to persist.
The only thing Macky Sall should be doing is resigning himself to the idea that you can’t burn a country to the ground on the pretext of wanting to continue to lead it. Between April 1960 and 2021, tens of millions of sons from Senegal lived there and still live there. Among them, only four had the honour of being its head of state. Millions of others are living very well the fact that they have never had to preside over any country and many of them are no less capable than Macky Sall. On the contrary…
bdiop@seneplus.com
A LA UNE
SENEGAL – Nanterre and Pikine formalize their partnership

On Friday, 14 February, at the Maison de la Musique in Nanterre, the cities of Nanterre (France) and Pikine (Senegal) formalised their twinning. They intend to join forces to strengthen their collaboration in key areas such as education, culture, sport and ecological transition.
Two municipalities, one creed
Signed by Mayors Raphaël Adam (Nanterre) and Abdoulaye Thimbo (Pikine), this agreement enshrines a long-standing relationship between the two cities, initiated in 2011 and strengthened by their joint commitment within the Forum of Local Authorities of the Periphery (FALP). These two suburban metropolises share similar challenges: rapid urbanization, social inclusion, access to public services and tackling inequality. “This partnership is based on shared values of participatory democracy, social justice and citizen empowerment,” said the two mayors. Two former mayors of the city of Pikine were present at this ceremony including Alioune Badara Diouck.
New Alliance: New North-South Relationship
This twinning has a particularity: it is not based on a classical scheme where the richest commune plays the role of benefactor by providing solutions to all the problems of the other. With this signature, it is a win-win partnership between two municipalities to ensure long-term financing and to involve the people in public works. By establishing a formal framework for cooperation, Pikine and Nanterre will foster the sharing of experiences and promote a dynamic of sustainable and inclusive development.

Twinning, a network of concrete exchanges
This partnership, as the two elected officials have announced, will not be limited to a declaration of intent. Concrete actions are planned in several strategic sectors, notably in the field of culture and arts. This will lead to joint artistic exchanges and festivals. In the area of sport and youth, both municipalities are planning to run inter-city tournaments and youth exchange programs. Regarding access to rights and solidarity, increased support for women victims of violence and a strengthening of social policies are planned. Finally, in terms of ecological transition, the two cities intend to develop joint projects around waste management, renewable energy and combating climate change.
A symbol of friendship between peoples
Beyond the local issues, this alliance is part of a broader perspective: that of decentralized international cooperation. These two municipalities learn a lot from each other. This twinning reflects the need to forge links between cities around the world, enhancing their complementarities and building bridges between cultures and territories. “This union will contribute to the development of friendship and understanding between peoples, while contributing to the consolidation of peace,” said the mayors at the ceremony. The evening concluded with a concert by Senegalese artist Faada Freddy. With this partnership, Nanterre and Pikine affirm their will to work together for a future based on solidarity, innovation and respect for democratic values. A promising alliance that, beyond borders, demonstrates that the challenges of tomorrow are better met by more people.
A LA UNE
MARTINIQUE – Jerryka Jacques-Gustave, an exceptional voice “marked with iron” by Johnny Hallyday

When Johnny Hallyday died, everyone had something to say. Those who had seen the man at the exit of the Accord Arena and those who had never heard a note of his music. It was almost saturation. But among all of them, if there was one person who knew him both in life and on stage, it would be Jerryka Jacques-Gustave, his chorister. Curtain-raising for a top artist.
Johnny Hallyday aux Trois Mailletz
Jerryka Jacques-Gustave is no longer to be presented. Or perhaps it is. For if we have all, one day, heard his voice, it must be recognized that it is not always easy to associate a face and a name. It is the ravishing chorister martiniquaise, beautiful, thin, with a devastating smile, who stood behind the rock legend, Johnny Hallyday. You see now! Even though Johnny is no longer with us, Jerryka has never stopped making her voice resound in the Parisian concert halls, especially in the famous cabaret Aux Trois Mailletz.
Early artist
Jerryka Jacques-Gustave was not always in Johnny’s entourage. Former chorister of the latter, of which she was the conductor for four years, she knew how to seize her chance when an opportunity presented itself. Her career has not always been one of lights and rhinestones, however. It all begins for Jerryka in Fort-de-France. At the age of 12, she sang for the first time in the city’s cathedral. After a long break in music, her fate takes a turning point when she goes to Paris in 1983, at the age of 17. Disillusion! Parisians do not have the idyllic image that she had always imagined. Between studies of hairdressing and small jobs, she makes a meeting that will change her life: an unknown invites her to pose her voice in the studio. This opportunity leads her to the talented Édith Lefel and, above all, to Pedro Wognin, her mentor and future companion, who invites her home to Ivory Coast, a country that she will adopt as a second homeland.
Jerryka: piano bars at the Stade de France
In the late 1980s, Jerryka performed at Back Street, a piano bar that Johnny Hallyday loved. Ten years later, unaware of the turning point in her career, she is called to an audition with two other choristers. His heart leaped in his chest. The surprise is immense when she learns that she has just been selected to accompany the idol of young people during his mythical concert at the Stade de France. “We were taken to the Stade de France with Johnny, and there the real adventure began,” she recalls with emotion. As a chorister, she has to learn more than 51 songs and offer vocal arrangements. Beyond the challenge of such a responsibility, she sees it as an unforgettable opportunity that gives new impetus to her career.
Anecdotes about a generous and perfectionist Johnny
Jerryka remembers Johnny as an extraordinary artist who “…stands above the star…”. He was concerned about his audience and eager to push himself, […] always wanted to go above and beyond, to put himself in danger. He was getting on a helicopter, passing under a trap door… He was really putting himself in danger, but the show was so beautiful,” she says admiring. She also remembers a funny moment: one day, Johnny learns that she is organizing a dinner at her mother’s with some guests. He then, falsely offended, says, “I’m disappointed that I wasn’t invited.” Jerryka laughs again as he tells the story. Finally, he and Laeticia join the table, sharing a warm moment around the famous Caribbean crab family. Another memorable memory makes her smile: during a concert at the Olympia, a badly tied chorister loses her shoe in the middle of the performance. This one touches the ear of Johnny, who bursts with laughter and struggles to resume his song as the situation amuses him. Then comes the fatal moment she will never forget: December 6, 2017. Johnny Hallyday dies while singing in a cabaret. She then remembers a moment of tenderness: during a concert by Sylvie Vartan, where she was the chorister, Johnny had presented her to the public declaring that she was “one of the best”. According to her, the whole man is there.
Jerryka, between music and naturopathy
Jerryka Jacques-Gustave continues to sing at the cabaret Aux Trois Mailletz, where she amazes her small audience of regulars. But far from being limited to music, she also explores other horizons: she is a model for makeup and natural health educator, specializing in nutrition, naturopathy and phyto-aromatherapy. Jerryka’s singing with Johnny Hallyday was “a unique experience…that left a mark on her”.
A LA UNE
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Robert Beugré Mambé reassured after an infrastructure visit

Yamoussoukro, December 26, 2023- After an impregnation visit of the Charles Konan-Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Tuesday, December 26, 2023, the Prime Minister, Minister of Sport and Living Environment, Robert Beugré Mambé, said reassured. The stadium, he said, is ready to host Group C matches from Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea and The Gambia.
‘What we have seen is reassuring. Technically, from the equipment point of view, we are ready at the Yamoussoukro stadium. But we will remain vigilant until the end,” said Robert Beugré Mambé.
The Prime Minister called for on-call teams to be set up in all sectors. We will have specialists permanently because Côte d’Ivoire wants to be up to date, in all circumstances, with the expected benefits of this great country. We have given indications that vigilance is needed,’ insisted the Head of Government.
For this visit, which is part of the visits of infrastructure related to the CAN 2023, the Vice-President of the Republic, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, accompanied by the Prime Minister and other members of the government, visited the host infrastructure, in particular the President’s Hotel where official delegations will stay.
CAN 2023 is scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire with 24 teams.
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