By replacing Barthelemy Dias at the head of the World Association of Large Metropolises, Metropolis, the city of Dakar was wronged and its mayor unfairly sidelined.
In the Métropolis press release, it is written: “On December 13, 2024, Mr. Barthélémy Dias was dismissed from his position as mayor of Dakar, a decision which also results in the loss of his title of president of Metropolis. Faced with this exceptional situation, the Metropolis Executive Committee met on January 8, 2025 to examine the implications of this dismissal and define a way forward.
Barthelemy was not removed from his post as mayor of Dakar. No act has removed the mayor of Dakar.
In the decree of the prefect of Dakar it was written as follows: “I hereby declare you to have resigned from your mandate as municipal councilor of the City of Dakar, as of the date of notification of this letter. »
However, Barthelemy Dias was elected president of Metropolis as mayor and not as municipal councilor.
He is mayor elected by direct universal suffrage. He has a mandate as mayor and municipal councilor.
Article 10 of the association’s statutes, Reformed in June 2023, states: “The Presidency (…) is represented by the president, the highest representative of the executive body of the member institution elected to the position. The president exercises this function in a personal capacity. »
-It is added that Barthelemy Dias has appealed to the Supreme Court for abuse of power with a view to annulling the prefect’s order.
The Supreme Court has not yet ruled.
Métropolis hastily made a decision at a time when legal proceedings are underway and no administrative procedure has been initiated to replace the mayor.
This lightness is unacceptable and unacceptable for an association of this scale.
Thierno Bocoum
President AGIR
