Cheikh Oumar Diagne went further, accusing the current King Mohammed VI of facts that decency forbids us to reproduce here. These remarks, relayed massively on Facebook, provoked a general outcry in Morocco, where the monarchy is a sacred and respected institution, but also in Senegal. The ties between Senegal and Morocco go back well before the independence of the two countries and have been consolidated over the decades.
The removal of visas for Senegalese wishing to travel to Morocco, the robust economic exchanges symbolized by the Moroccan presence in the Senegalese banking sector through the CBAO, as well as the training of Senegalese officers at the Military Academy of Meknes, are all examples of the depth of this relationship.
Personal relations between Kings Hassan II and Mohammed VI and Senegalese presidents, from Léopold Sédar Senghor to Macky Sall, including Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade, have always been marked by mutual respect and close cooperation.
According to the newspaper “Point Actu”, the statements of Cheikh Oumar Diagne, who has already distinguished himself through numerous controversies that have already earned him a prison sentence, could well constitute the biggest diplomatic blunder that Senegal has experienced since its independence. Having become Minister to the Presidency under the new regime of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, his remarks have taken on an even more alarming dimension.
The seriousness of the accusations and their potential to harm Senegalese-Moroccan relations raise a crucial question: will President Bassirou Diomaye Faye be forced to dismiss Cheikh Oumar Diagne to calm tempers in Rabat and avoid a total breakdown in relations between the two countries?
Morocco, a country where the monarchy is a pillar of national stability, cannot tolerate such accusations without reacting. The first reactions in Rabat suggest a firm response from the Moroccan authorities. Senegal, for its part, will have to demonstrate diplomacy to defuse this emerging crisis, with a valuable ally, who has always been there when Senegal went through difficult times. The future of the relationship between these two brother countries could well depend on the management of this affair.
Rabat will surely expect strong measures from Dakar and the international community is closely monitoring the development of the situation. What is certain is that this affair, if it is not resolved quickly, could mark a turning point in relations between Senegal and Morocco. It is difficult to see how Rabat could tolerate such an offense.
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