POLITICS
SENEGAL – “It’s time for France to leave us alone,” says Ousmane Sonko

Ousmane Sonko went straight there. The leader of Pastef accused France of being largely responsible for the economic and political difficulties of its former colonies.Facing the press this Friday, July 2, 2021, the Senegalese opponent demanded the definitive withdrawal of France from the management of public affairs in Senegal. “It is time for France to leave us alone. It’s time for France to raise its knee with us,’ he said. According to him, the President of the Republic Macky Sall would be at the exclusive service of the interests of the country of Emmanuel Macron.
The Senegalese deputy and opponent, Ousmane Sonko, recalled the need for France to get out of the internal management of Senegal. During his statement to the press on Friday, July 2, he insisted that the former colony is responsible for the recurring tensions in the African continent. He said, however, that he has nothing against the French people, but that he denounces the unacceptable interference of France in the political terrain of its former colonies, and especially on the choice of presidential candidates. “The hypocrisy of this France is lived and expressed every day. We want it to stop interfering in our affairs. That the Senegalese people have the right to choose freely, and not because France has chosen a candidate with the methods we know.” ,” he said.
Ousmane Sonko can no longer accept that the African continent is the object of permanent and arbitrary exploitation by the French Republic. For him, Germany, Spain and Italy had colonies but these countries never interfere with the politics of the nations that were under their tutelage. The anti-system candidate finds it hard to understand why France is tirelessly trying to gain control over its former colonies. “It is time for France to take an example from its European neighbours… There is no former colony of France that is developed. France is no longer going to impose a president on us. It’s over.We’re not against France. What we’re against is exploitation. We want win-win cooperation.Seven centuries of colonization and now neocolonization is enough.” , hammered the third-place candidate in the 2019 presidential election.
However, the 46-year-old Senegalese opponent acknowledges that African leaders in general and Senegalese in particular have a large part of responsibility in the difficulties faced by their people. Corruption, bad governance, misappropriation of public funds, nepotism, are all vices that are much more related to the incompetence of the government than to external influence, even though, he recalls, France has done nothing to stop this. “France is not responsible for the clientelism, the misappropriation of public funds, the incompetence of our leaders unable to identify priorities. It is not responsible for selling off our resources, even though it benefits from them to a large extent. All of this is the responsibility of our leaders.” , explained the leader of Pastef les Patriotes.
The Senegalese opponent calls on the Senegalese people to a total click that must result in a break with the vicious methods of governance that have led the African continent to this state of poverty and constant democratic retreat.
Ousmane Sonko finally challenged the youth who, in his opinion, has a heavy responsibility to bring about change for an independent Africa able to manage its own resources and to get out of purely political calculations with the sole aim of staying in power. “Africa belongs to Africans and no one else. It is time for us to take our destiny in hand”, added the politician, optimistic about the future of the continent.
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

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
GUINEA
GUINEA – Visit of the African Union, renewed commitment for a successful transition

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
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST AFRICA – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.
An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.
Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.
He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.
Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7
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