Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko announces major political bureau reshuffle
via SeneNews2 min read
The African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity PASTEF party has officially reorganized its Political Bureau. A decision signed on April 19, 2026, and made public on Monday, outlines the appointments of several officials to strategic positions by party president Ousmane Sonko. This restructuring follows validation by the National Council, which met on the same day. The new configuration of the Political Bureau adheres to the party's statutes, internal regulations, and directives from its governing bodies. Malick Ndiaye, Abass Fall, Daouda Ngom, and Moustapha Sarré have been appointed as vice-presidents and members of the Executive Committee. Mohamed Ayib Salim Daffé is the new secretary general and a member of the Executive Committee, supported by deputy secretaries general Khadidiatou Diop, Fadilou Keita, Khady Diène Gaye, Bassirou Kébé, and Birom Holo Ba. Amadou Ba is the national secretary for communication, with Arame Ndoye Gassama as deputy. Assane Mbengue is the national secretary for organization and logistics, with Baba Lamine Thiam as deputy. Malick Sy is the national secretary for political training, with Papa Moussa Sy as deputy. Babo Amadou Ba has been named coordinator of the National Movement of Patriotic Cadres MONCAP, an affiliated structure. This restructuring, approved by the PASTEF National Council on April 19, 2026, is presented as an update to the party's internal organization.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
The Senegalese government has completed the payment of salaries for contract teachers across the country. This decision, confirmed by the Ministry of National Education, is seen as a crucial step for social peace and the continuity of the academic calendar, especially with the CFEE 2026 approaching. The payment fulfills a political commitment by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, aiming to stabilize society and secure the school year. The Ministry of National Education stated that this measure is intended to foster a calm environment in schools, ensuring the smooth conduct of evaluations nationwide. This addresses a long-standing demand from education stakeholders, often raised before national examinations. The Ministry highlighted that this achievement resulted from coordination among various public administration bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, regional governors, Academic Inspectorates IA, Education and Training Inspectorates IEF, and teacher unions. These entities were acknowledged for their role in resolving the situation, which was deemed vital for the continuity of public education services.
Abdoul Aziz Diop, former special advisor to President Macky Sall, has been summoned by the Dakar prosecutor's office regarding controversial statements he made about Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko and his supporters. The Special Cybersecurity Division has been instructed to question Diop about remarks he made during a media broadcast. This development follows a public outcry over Diop's comments, which were described as particularly harsh towards Sonko, who is currently the President of the National Assembly, and Pastef activists and sympathizers. Investigators from the Special Cybersecurity Division have been mandated to gather explanations from the former presidential advisor.
Must ReadProfessor Meïssa Diakhaté, a research professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, presented an analysis at a WATHI think tank roundtable, highlighting a structural imbalance in Senegal's institutional framework. He argues that the President holds a dominant position over the National Assembly, largely due to the power to dissolve the legislative body. This power, while constitutionally framed not to be exercised during the first two years of a legislature or during exceptional powers, gives the President what he terms a "right of life or death over the National Assembly." Conversely, Professor Diakhaté points out the absence of a symmetrical mechanism for the National Assembly to end the presidential mandate. He notes that while a motion of no confidence can be directed against the government, its effectiveness is limited as the President can re-form a similar government, and a new motion cannot be immediately reintroduced. This creates a persistent asymmetry favoring the Executive. Beyond the dissolution power, Professor Diakhaté identifies several structural obstacles to parliamentary work. These include the need for prior authorization from the executive hierarchy for parliamentary hearings of government members and public officials, and the short timeframes for examining legislative texts. He states that bills with hundreds of articles are sometimes adopted after only a few hours of debate, limiting parliamentary oversight. To address these issues, he advocates for