Diomaye et Macky ou l’ONU contre l’APR
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye received former President Macky Sall on Friday. The meeting has sparked questions and even outrage among some, while others have expressed satisfaction. The former denounce it as a second act of violence against the victims of repression under Macky Sall's regime, while the latter argue for the necessity of adopting a republican stance. For these latter groups, Bassirou Diomaye Faye sought to transcend partisan and vengeful positions and adopt the posture of a head of state. Some, like Moundiaye Cissé, even encourage him to work more closely with Macky Sall to benefit from his experience.
But, given the current political context, it is worth questioning Bassirou Diomaye Faye's motivations. The scenario resembles a trade-off between the UN Secretary-General position and the APR (Alliance for the Republic). If it were solely a matter of republican posturing and national unity, Diomaye would have had ample time to support Macky Sall's candidacy and even have Senegal endorse it. Instead, he ignored the former head of state, forcing him to run for the position under the Burundian flag. Some will say that Ousmane Sonko was the stumbling block. A convenient argument that exonerates the head of state.
But the truth is that Diomaye Faye has changed course and ambitions. He has adopted an electoral strategy, and this is leading him to change his allies and adversaries. The head of state can no longer count on Pastef, with whom he has broken ties. He therefore needs a political machine to win the upcoming elections. However, it must be acknowledged that he does not yet have this machine. And he won't get it with figures like Mimi Touré and Abdourahmane Diouf, useful on television and in structuring the party, but incapable of mobilizing support. The infamous sparsely attended rally in Mbour is still fresh in everyone's minds.
Diomaye therefore needs to recruit elsewhere to bolster his party's ranks. He has already started within Pastef. But in this party, it's difficult to gauge the influence of any leader, as Sonko's aura seems to be the driving force, with the rest of the party following. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is a perfect example. Defeated in his hometown in the local elections, he became president after being appointed by Sonko. The influence of Pastef's recruits thus remains quite limited.
Meanwhile, other parties like the Socialist Party (PS), the Alliance for the Republic (AFP), and Rewmi have been drained of their substance during Macky Sall's rule. The same is true for the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), a ship without a captain. Almost only the Alliance for the Republic (APR) remains as a strong party with leaders wielding undeniable local political influence. However, with Macky Sall's departure, especially given the circumstances of the 2024 presidential election, this party is destined to follow in the footsteps of the PS and the PDS: to die a slow death.
This situation presents a promising opportunity for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. By supporting Macky Sall, he gives himself the chance to either form an alliance with the APR or poach members from within its ranks. The latter option seems more likely. Indeed, with Macky Sall absent and without a solid interim leader, it is clear that some party leaders will leave, as many have already done, like Thérèse Faye. Their primary destination will be the presidential majority. Until now, some officials have hesitated for two reasons: first, Diomaye had not acknowledged the break with Sonko; second, there was Macky Sall's candidacy.
This break with Pastef, followed by this support for Sall, provides the perfect pretext for joining the presidential camp. The argument will be along the lines of: "He supported Macky at the UN; we must help him succeed too." "He adopted a republican stance, and that compels us to answer his call." Support for Macky will thus become the universal access card to the presidential party.
Another Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition may already be in the works, with the same people, but this time around Diomaye.
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