In a speech last week, as he marked his first 100 days in office, newly elected Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye—who assumed office on April 2nd, 2024—offered what some may consider a provisional account of his administration’s achievements. Within the same breath, he went hard at his predecessor, Macky Sall—who ruled between 2012-2024. To some supporters of Mr. Sall, this seems somewhat angering.
Elected late in March, President Faye reiterated the early successes of his administration and announced their future priorities, amongst them youth employment. He termed the previous administration, under Macky Sall, unfit because it mismanaged key sectors such as water and health, arguing that overpriced and poorly negotiated contracts had been left behind.
These allegations were rubbished by Abdou Mbow, APR deputy spokesperson, and the party belonging to Macky Sall, the Senegalese President; the new administration was ill-prepared. “He lacks fair play despite being elected by 54% of Senegalese, who sanctioned the previous regime. Now, I believe it is important for him to express his direction. Up to now, there has not been a general policy statement. The project he was referring to was presented to the Senegalese, but we have yet to see it materialize. Themselves have said that the project will be available in September, spelling, thus, they were not ready to take office,” Mbow said.
“The President now faces the harsh realities of power. When we previously spoke of economic challenges under Macky Sall’s presidency, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Middle Eastern issues, he did not accept these explanations. Today, he understands.”
Kanoute also commended the reduction in prices of essential commodities under Faye’s leadership.
She further asked President Faye to come up with evidence over the accusations of mismanaging the contract.
The exchange does allude to how much the new administration is tasked with amid unending political tensions that Senegal holds.