On December 31, Senegalese Minister-Counsellor Cheikh Oumar Diagne was dismissed from his post as director of general resources at the Presidency of the Republic.
The move follows controversial comments he made about the riflemen, whom he called “traitors who fought against their brothers” during a television interview on December 21.
Faced with growing indignation, many voices have been raised to demand his departure since his remarks. The presidency finally formalized his dismissal with a press release published on Tuesday, announcing the appointment of Papa Thione Dieng as head of general resources, a position previously held by Diagne.
Although the press release did not provide precise reasons for this replacement, the government spokesperson, Moustapha Njekk Sarré, described Diagne’s remarks as “a very unfortunate outing”, specifying that the riflemen are “heroes of the Nation.”
Cheikh Oumar Diagne’s statements sparked a strong reaction not only in Senegal, but also internationally. The latter, already known for his controversies and convicted of defamation in the past, has been widely criticized.
Gueye Para, the president of the African Federation of Descendants of Senegalese Tirailleurs, expressed his satisfaction following the dismissal, while announcing the maintenance of a complaint for defamation against the former minister-advisor.
Senegal
