🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Charles Blé Goudé assesses Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko's political strategy as successful despite internal tensions
via SeneNews9 min read
Ivorian politician Charles Blé Goudé, president of COJEP and the Pan-African Alliance, has offered a detailed analysis of the political trajectory of the Pastef party and the current governance in Senegal. He described the strategy that led to Bassirou Diomaye Faye's rise to power after Ousmane Sonko's incarceration as a "substitution strategy." Blé Goudé stated that he was prompted to discuss the Senegalese situation publicly, emphasizing the need for a calm and lucid debate, free from emotional interpretations of the current political crisis. He recounted the context of 2024, where Pastef's historical leader, Ousmane Sonko, and his right-hand man, Diomaye Faye, were imprisoned, leading to what he called a "judicial and political barrier" against Sonko's candidacy. This situation, he explained, prompted Pastef leaders to devise an alternative political strategy. Blé Goudé identified three primary objectives of Pastef's political approach: achieving democratic alternation, preventing the democratic process from being held hostage by the Macky Sall regime, and ensuring Pastef gained and exercised power. He concluded that the strategy was successful in achieving these goals, citing the democratic alternation, Pastef's ascent to power, and the unhindered democratic process. However, Blé Goudé clarified that the current tensions between Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye pertain to secondary objectives, such as power management, ego management, and collaboration between the
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Waly Diouf Bodian has been dismissed from his position as Director General of the National Society of the Autonomous Port of Dakar PAD on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Doune Pathé Mbengue, a civil administrator and principal inspector of Taxes and Estates, has been appointed as the new Director General. Mbengue's appointment was part of new individual measures adopted by the government, following his initial nomination during the Council of Ministers on April 24, 2024, shortly after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye came to power. He officially took office on May 13, 2024, succeeding Mountaga Sy. Waly Diouf Bodian, a long-standing executive and activist of the PASTEF party, was known for his close ties to Ousmane Sonko. His dismissal occurs amidst a tense political climate, marked by Ousmane Sonko's move into the opposition after leaving the Prime Minister's office and his election as head of the National Assembly, where he now exercises increased legislative oversight over the executive. Bodian had recently stated he did not wish to leave his post without prior consultation with his party, and his dismissal is seen as a consequence of his loyalty to the PASTEF leader.
During a Council of Ministers meeting on July 16, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye approved 32 significant appointments within the public administration. These changes span various ministries and institutions, aiming to strengthen governance and optimize public services. Key appointments include Couro Kane as Secretary General of the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority ARTP, El Hadji Allé Birima Fall as Director of Normative Activity, and Doune Pathé Mbengue as Director General of the Autonomous Port of Dakar National Company. Other notable designations include Mamadou Thiaw as Director General of the National Agency for Maritime Affairs ANAM, Soulèye Kane as Director General of the Vocational Training Financing Fund 3FPT, and Mame Awa Ndoye as Director General of the National Office for Vocational Training ONFP. In the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad, Fatou Gaye Ngom was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mamadou Ndiaye as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, and Mamadou Ba as Consul General in Bordeaux. The Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene saw several changes, including Karamba Diallo as Director General of SEN-National Supply Pharmacy SEN-PNA and numerous regional health director appointments. The Ministry of Mines and Geology also received new leadership, with Cheikh Sadibou Diop as Secretary General and Lamine Diouf as Director General of Mines and Geology.
Ibrahim Mbaye, the 18-year-old Senegalese international winger, is preparing to depart Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of more playing time. Under contract with PSG until 2028, Mbaye is considered one of African football's top prospects but has faced limited opportunities due to strong offensive competition from players like Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola. His career management has recently been taken over by renowned agent Jorge Mendes, known for orchestrating major European transfers. This development is expected to accelerate discussions with several clubs from the Premier League and Bundesliga that are interested in signing him before the transfer window closes. Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Tottenham are among the English clubs reportedly tracking Mbaye, while Borussia Dortmund in Germany has also shown interest. Mbaye's ambitions are focused on a top-tier league, ruling out a move to Championship club Wolverhampton, despite its historical ties to Mendes. While Paris Saint-Germain is open to retaining the young talent, they would seek a significant financial gain if he departs, valuing him between 40 and 50 million euros, and might include a buy-back clause to maintain future control.