Senegal 
Senegalese govt sacked over ferry accident

afrol News, 5 November - President Abdoulaye Wade yesterday sacked the government of Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye, replacing her today with his man of confidence, Idrissa Seck. Although no official explanations have been given to the sudden move, the replacement is seen in relation to the Joola ferry accident last month.

The decision was announced in a short decree, signed by the President, saying that Ms Boye's cabinet had "ceased to function." President Wade did not explain the background for the decision, neither in the decree nor in statements to the press. The decree to name Mr Seck Prime Minister was equally short. 

Ms Boye and her entire cabinet yesterday morning were told to step down with immediate effect. Her government, in office since March 2001, had been weakened by several financial scandals. As the Joola accident, where around 1000 persons lost their lives, also increasingly was blamed on government failure, trust in the cabinet faded. 

Mr Seck, a 43-year-old careerist of President Wade's Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), on the other hand is known to have the full trust of the Head of State. The new Prime Minister has been the private secretary of the President and currently also holds the office of Vice-President of the PDS.

He was given the post earlier today and told to start consultations immediately to form his new government. Several high-ranking PDS personalities, including some dismissed ministers, have been spotted entering Mr Seck's offices today, and it is assumed that a new cabinet will be announced within short.

On the policy aims of PM Idrissa Seck, still few details are known. Speaking to the press in Dakar today, however, Mr Seck emphasised on the need of more transparency. Whether the strong drive for economic liberalisation that followed by Ms Boye's government will continue will be indicated by Mr Seck's choice of Finance Minister. 

Observers however give outgoing Minister Abdoulaye Diop a fair chance of staying in office as the President is said to have confidence in him. Mr Diop was one of the ex-Ministers that had been seen at Mr Seck's offices today. This also included outgoing Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio. 

While silence on the dismissal of Ms Boye is maintained, the new PM is however fuelling the speculations that the Joola accident was an issue. In a statement today, he reminded that it is the President who designates the office of Prime Minister, and President Wade had paid very careful attention to the disaster and its aftermath. 

He and the President would "have the will to see to that the country is cured from all those evils and weaknesses that made it possible for the Joola drama to happen." Senegal needed a new "course towards development," the lesson from the accident had been.

One change of government personnel so far seems to be confirmed. Youssouph Sakho, ex-Minister of Equipment and Transport and responsible for the handling of the Joola disaster, is definitively out of the cabinet. Mr Sakho was not even left interim Minister while the new government is formed. His Ministry is temporarily administered by Macky Sall, outgoing Minister of Energy and Mines - another hot guess to continue in Mr Seck's government.

Sources: Based on Senegalese govt and press and afrol archives

 

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