POLITICS
SENEGAL – Birame Souley Diop: “It is not a problem of a third term, it is a problem of a third candidacy and he has no right to do so.”
Birame Souley Diop is the first vice-president of the Pastef party led by the leader Ousmane Sonko, mayor of Zinguinchor radical opponent of President Macky Sall. He is also a Deputy of the parliamentary group YEWWI AS KAN WI and Mayor of Thiès Nord, two positions he held following the parliamentary elections on 31 July 2022. During his recent visit to Paris, he kindly granted us this exclusive interview. An interview where we discussed purely political issues focused mainly on the upcoming elections including the 2024 presidential election. He addressed various issues such as the parliamentary elections that allowed his rise in the hemicycle; the arbitrary arrests of members of the Pastef Les Patriotes party (Les Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité)Ousmane Sonko’s judicial records; the party’s philosophy among other burning issues that revolve around a probable candidacy of President Macky Sall for the 2024 elections.
But who is Birame Souley Diop…
In short, Birame Souley Diop is a native of Keur Mame El Hadj in Thiès, a region located 70 km east of Dakar, the Senegalese capital. He is part of the religious family of the Ndieguen. Before his university studies, he was a boarder at the Saint Gabriel school and then it is the turn of the Malick Sy high school to welcome him for his secondary studies. A former student of the Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis, he will do a DEA in Law, before succeeding brilliantly in the ENA entrance exam. It is within the union of taxes and fields that he consolidates his professional career. A patriot at heart, he met Ousmane Sonko at university, who became his political mentor. They became inseparable. They find themselves together in the tax administration where they vigorously defend the same causes of loyalty, belief in work, greatness in their actions but especially of humanism. Later, it is without hesitation that they build their political home within the Pastef les Patriotes Party founded in January 2O14 by young executives of the public administration, where the child of Thiès now occupies the rank of first vice-president.
The full interview to watch here:
The exclusive interview
In this exclusive interview, MP-Mayor Birame Souley Diop reviewed the last parliamentary elections that allowed him to sit in the National Assembly. “Poorly organized elections” in his opinion, because most of their incumbent leaders were banned from running.
Birame Souley Diop also addressed Senegal’s next major electoral event, the presidential election which is fast approaching. From the position of President Macky Sall, who is in his second consecutive term, with the aim of running for a 3rd mandate, which he struggles to give a firm and definitive answer “neither yes nor no,” he says. According to Birame Souley Diop, “It’s not a problem of a third term in fact, it’s a problem of a third candidacy and he [President Macky Sall] has no right to do so.”
Ousmane Sonko, the mayor of Zinguinchor, said he was the victim of a state plot. The politician speaks of relentlessness, violation of his rights, political liquidation, recently he even alerted international opinion to the fact that President Macky Sall Persecuted, he says that his life is threatened, this issue was also addressed by Birame Souley Diop in this interview.
President MACKY SALL says he wants to reduce the opposition to its simplest expression. Karim WADE son of former President Abdoulaye Wade who was a potential candidate for high office is exiled in Qatar for years following his conviction on 23 March 2015 for illicit enrichment. The former Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Ababacar Sall, also saw his project to occupy the head of Senegal destroyed because of his sentence on 7 March 2017 to 5 years in prison in the case of the city hall advance fund. He ended up in prison and released by presidential decree in 2019. Ousmane Sonko, the fierce opponent of President Macky Sall declared his candidacy for the elections of 2024 under the backdrop of judicial tension. He is accused by a masseuse on behalf of Adji Sarr of rape and death threats, he continues to denounce a state plot and a plan of political liquidation, etc. Birame Souley Diop to give his point of life on this subject.
On the issue of arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of Pastef’s members, Birame Souley Diop said, “There have never been so many political leaders imprisoned in 12 years. Almost 160 people were taken to prison. But today … the population is determined and we know that if we let it happen, he [President Macky Sall] will impose a monocracy, a monarchy in Senegal.”
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
