POLITICS
SENEGAL – Barthélemy Diaz to Macky Sall: “The policy of terror and intimidation will not pass”
The response of Barthélemy Diaz, the mayor of Mermoz Sacré-coeur, to the speech of the Senegalese head of state Macky Sall, is frontal. The latter threatened the demonstrators, during the Presidential Council for Integration and Youth Employment organized on Thursday, April 22, 2021 in Diamniadio. “The policy of terror and intimidation will not pass,” replied Barthélémy Diaz, in a statement to the press on Saturday 24 April at Parcelles Assainies. The politician reminded the President of the Republic that any attempt to intimidate or deprive the freedom to demonstrate guaranteed by the country’s Constitution will not be accepted.
Mermoz Sacré-cœur Mayor Barthélemy Diaz and former Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Ababacar Sall participated in a “Ndogou-Débat” Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Parcelles Assainies at Unit 9 Basketball Court. A prayer was said for the 14 martyrs of the recent demonstrations following the arrest of the leader of Pastef-Les Patriotes Ousmane Sonko.
During this meeting with the people of this locality, Barthélemy Diaz faced the press. He addressed many points but also gave an answer to the posture of President Macky Sall during his speech of Diamniadio who openly threatened the demonstrators of the month of March. ‘It won’t happen again,’ he said. A statement that the opposition members have not digested. The Mayor of Sacred Heart Mermoz has chastised this threatening posture of the Head of State. “Concerning the last exit of Mr. Macky Sall in Diamniadio. An exit that is well weighed and weighed. We would like to tell President Macky Sall who had to say that what happened during the last events in Senegal will not happen again. We want to join President Macky Sall in his thoughts, to tell him that we confirm that for us too, we say that what happened at that event will not happen again in Senegal, because we will no longer accept it. We will accept nothing more than a dying regime, a desperate regime, a draconian regime, which allows itself to recruit nerds, to arm them with weapons of war, I weigh my words, bombs, automatic weapons to shoot down, I weigh my words well, Senegalese citizens who only express a constitutional right, a right to protest in a country where democracy has been relegated to the back ground in favour of dictatorship.” he declared.
On the issue of local elections postponed twice. On the opposition side, December 2021 would be the ideal month for this election, but the government wants to hold them in January 2022. A political calculation according to Barthelemy Diaz, and for good reason: the Africa Cup of Nations that will take place at the same period in Cameroon and in which the national team of Senegal will participate.A sporting event that could distract Senegalese citizens from the real electoral stakes. The mayor of Mermoz Sacré-cœur insisted on the real intentions of the President of the Republic on the organization of local elections but also on his desire to run for a third mandate already challenged by the opposition. On the issue of local elections, the mayor of Mermoz Sacré-cœur was also firm: “I repeat that the words of President Macky Sall are a strategy of intimidation, a strategy of terror, a strategy that consists today in refusing to organize local elections. Since President Macky Sall did not have the courage to look the Senegalese in the eye and tell them that he wanted to run for a third term, he decided by political tricks to obtain a third term, and failing to obtain a third mandate to obtain a third half mandate. That is to say that this mandate must end in 2024, how to bring it in 2025/2026 without going through elections. The objective of this man is to do 5 years in power without organizing any election. The locals were supposed to hold in 2019, they were not held in 2019, he had promised to hold them in 2020, they were not held in 2020 today he is proposed December 2021, he refuses and he proposes January 2022. Is there a Senegalese willing to explain why President Macky Sall is willing to squabble for a month. This is because in January 2022, there is the Africa Cup of Nations.” questions the mayor of Mermoz Sacré-cœur.
Barthélemy Diaz invited the Senegalese people and especially the Senegalese youth to remain mobilized because the fight must continue. “If President Macky Sall does not respect the electoral calendar, the worst is to be expected. Either he drives us out of the country or we drive him out of the country,” he said.
Concerning the candidacy of the President of the Republic Macky Sall for a third term, Barthélemy Diaz remains firm: “From now on, the third term is banned. Intimidation will not pass. This intimidation, this policy of terror, this fear will not pass. We will no longer accept armed nerds killing our children in broad daylight with automatic weapons that are provided by the power, nervis that are supervised and protected by law enforcement.” he concluded.
As a reminder, the political climate in Senegal remains tense following the latest demonstrations. Since the conditional release of Ousmane Sonko, outside the head of state, supporters of the ruling party such as Madiabel Diagne or Mame Mbaye Niang continue to express their position on the case on television sets.What opposition members call “virulent” and “intimidation”. An opposition which, for its part, remains mobilized and will not let anything pass, as stressed the mayor of Mermoz Sacré-cœur during this press conference.
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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
