Resignations within the Senegalese government continue to multiply, highlighting growing instability within the ruling coalition. After the departure of the Minister of Agriculture, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, last Saturday, it is the turn of the general director of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, Mamadou Mame Boye Diao, to leave his functions and also to leave the Benno Bokk coalition Yakaar, in order to present himself as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
Although Mamadou Mame Boye Diao is not considered a major figure in President Macky Sall’s party, this new resignation underlines the increasingly significant fissures within the power in place, in an electoral context where unity is essential. This resignation could also mark the start of a series of defections, since the current president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, has not yet revealed his intentions. He would have been received by President Macky Sall on Monday, and he would have been offered the position of head of government within a reshuffled team.
In an attempt to limit resignations and preserve coalition unity, the outgoing president also met with former Prime Minister Boun Abdalla Dionne on Tuesday. These various meetings demonstrate the efforts made to avoid the fragmentation of the ruling coalition just five months before the presidential election.
This unstable political situation raises questions about the future of the Senegalese government and its ability to maintain cohesion during electoral periods. The coming months will be decisive for the political future of the country, with an electoral battle which already promises to be close and a desire of the various actors to position themselves for the 2024 presidential election.
In conclusion, successive resignations within the Senegalese government highlight growing instability and divisions within the ruling coalition. These departures could have major consequences on the political strategy of President Macky Sall and on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. It remains to be seen how the government will deal with this situation and how it will manage to maintain the cohesion necessary to lead a successful electoral campaign.