Stories from Senegal

Mamoudou Ibrahkan, leader of the political movement 'Demain c'est maintenant,' stated in his new book, 'Troisième alternance au Sénégal, mon double regard,' that the current power struggle between President Diomay and Prime Minister Sonko will turn to the President's advantage.

Senegal will hold a two-day celebration for political figure Abdoulaye Ouad. A scientific colloquium is scheduled for June 5 to examine the legacy of the politician, who founded the country's first opposition party in 1974 and remains its leader.

The presidential spokesperson in Senegal, Ousseinouli, was dismissed and replaced yesterday. Abdoulaitin, a lawyer and coordinator for the Diomai Fay coalition, has been appointed to the role. The change follows reported internal tensions within the Senegalese presidency.

Ousseinouli was a prominent supporter of Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko during their release from prison in March 2024. Human rights activist Alyountine described the dismissal as a potential first step in a broader purge of the state.

The President of Senegal has highlighted a lack of political coordination. The president said the need for improved collaboration among political entities.

The President of Senegal has noted and deplored a lack of coordination between the presidential majority and the parliamentary majority. This procedural gap was discussed in the context of political rivalries between leaders.

Senegalese President Bassirou Maïga stated that Senegal is ready to extend support to the Jewish community to ensure peace and security. The announcement was made during a broadcast regarding regional stability. No specific terms of cooperation were detailed in the statement.

The opposition in Senegal has expressed reservations regarding proposed reforms to the electoral code. Critics claim the text is designed to impact the eligibility of Ousmane Sonko for the 2029 elections.

RFI Afrique and RFI Monde reported that port workers' unions are discussing defense under a pretext. The reports did not specify the nature of the defense or the pretext being used. The context suggests this discussion may be related to broader geopolitical or security concerns.

A blockade is challenging the government's ability to supply fuel to the country. The fuel supply, originating from coastal countries Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, is being completely blocked. This situation presents a new challenge for the government in managing the crisis.