In Senegal, Lat Diop, former Minister of Sports under Macky Sall, became one of the first executives of this era to face prosecution for economic crimes. He is also the first former member of the government to be incarcerated. He was charged and detained in connection with accusations concerning his former position as director of Lonase, Senegal’s National Lottery.
Accusations contested by Lat Diop
The accusations against Lat Diop were triggered by the statements of Mouhamed Dieng, former boss of an online sports betting company. During his hearing by the new financial judicial pool, Mouhamed Dieng claimed to have handed over several billion CFA francs to Lat Diop, then CEO of Lonase.
Lat Diop rejected these accusations. He is charged with extortion, embezzlement and money laundering. His lawyer, Me El Hadj Diouf, describes these accusations as “denunciation” and denounces a violation of the legal time limits for police custody, which, according to him, would render the procedure void. He plans to challenge the validity of the procedure as early as next week.
Candidacy for legislative elections
Me Diouf also highlights the absence of material evidence, such as an audit or a report from Lonase, to support these accusations, and he sees in this affair a political maneuver, aimed at discrediting the former leaders. On Thursday, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko reiterated his commitment to fighting “widespread corruption” and promised in-depth investigations to clean up public management.
Lat Diop was preparing a candidacy for the legislative elections scheduled for November 17 in the Guédiawaye constituency. His supporters and members of the former majority reject accusations of mismanagement, calling them political tactics aimed at weakening their candidates. A demonstration planned by the new Alliance for the Transparency of Legislative Elections (Atel) was banned by the authorities.
Electoral context and political tensions
In response to accusations of embezzlement and other financial irregularities made by the Prime Minister, Abdou Mbow, former deputy and spokesperson for the Alliance for the Republic (APR), suspects a political strategy. He accuses Ousmane Sonko of leading an “electoral campaign before its time” to try to restore his image in a period where he finds himself, according to Mbow, in “bad position”.
Senegal has always been considered a model of stable democracy in Africa, notably thanks to its peaceful political transitions. The alternation process which saw Bassirou Diomaye Faye ascend to the presidency to replace Macky Sall is part of this democratic tradition, but it was also marked by political challenges and tensions.
The end of the Macky Sall era
Macky Sall, in power since 2012, had promised not to run for a third term while respecting constitutional provisions. However, intense debates have agitated the country over the possibility of his candidacy for another term. Despite political pressure and popular protests, Macky Sall finally confirmed in July 2023 that he would not run in the presidential election scheduled for 2024, thus paving the way for a new political era.
Macky Sall’s resignation has created a climate of uncertainty and intense competition among the country’s political figures, each seeking to position themselves to succeed him. In this context, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a young charismatic leader from the Pastef political movement (Patriotes of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity), established himself as a central actor.
The emergence of Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Former secretary general of Pastef and close ally of Ousmane Sonko, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was able to take advantage of the growing popularity of his party and the demand for renewal expressed by a large part of Senegalese youth. With a speech focused on transparency, social justice and the fight against corruption, he attracted a significant segment of the electorate, particularly young people and the middle classes.
After the elimination of several leading candidates due to legal disputes or ineligibility, Bassirou Diomaye Faye positioned himself as the favorite candidate. His accession to the presidency is the result of a well-orchestrated political strategy, combined with a general fed up with practices perceived as oligarchic under the Macky Sall regime.
A tense but peaceful electoral process
The 2024 presidential election took place in a tense political climate. The campaign was marked by accusations of repression against the opposition and sporadic demonstrations. Nevertheless, the electoral process was generally peaceful and transparent, with the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) playing a crucial role in ensuring the credibility of the vote.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the election with a comfortable majority, thanks to a coalition formed with other opposition parties. His election was seen as a major turning point in Senegal’s political history, symbolizing a break with the country’s traditional elites.
Fight against corruption
The arrival of Bassirou Diomaye Faye as president marks a new chapter for Senegal, but it faces considerable challenges. In particular, it must restore citizen confidence in institutions, manage socio-economic tensions, and meet the high expectations of those hoping for structural reforms in the fight against corruption, governance and social justice. It was as part of the fight against corruption that Lat Diop was arrested.
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