Cablegate: Senegal-Former National Assembly Chairman Creates His Own

VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDK #1395 3391438
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041438Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1520
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS DAKAR 001395

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KDEM ECON SG
SUBJECT: Senegal-Former National Assembly Chairman Creates his own
Party

1. (U) Summary: On December 2, the recently ousted Chairman of the
National Assembly, Macky Sall, called a press conference at the
Hotel Teranga to announce the creation of his party. He announced
that his new party is APR-Yakaar (Alliance for the Republic and the
Wolof word for hope-Yakaar). End Summary.

2. (U) In announcing his new party Sall remarked that Senegal is at
crossroads and it was necessary to "dare to take a new turn to
create a democratic and free Senegal where people are thirsty for
change." He then revealed that "Work, Solidarity and Dignity" was
the motto of his party and he called for an ethical revival to
confront the country's economic and political crisis. He denounced
the underutilization of human resources in Senegal and called for "a
new leadership based on dialogue and consensus that banishes
arrogance and violence," thus indirectly criticizing Wade's
government without naming him.

3. (U) The principal conference room that he used ended up being too
small for the thousand plus people that came and many were packed in
adjoining conference rooms and corridors in what was a festive
atmosphere. Leading opposition parties were represented at the
launching ceremony including Madieyna Diouf, the number two of AFP
(Alliance of the Forces of Progress) and Oumar Sarr, one the closest
aides of former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, who, like Sall, was
ousted and then cut ties with the ruling party to prepare for Wade's
succession. The dominant slogan of his supporters was "Macky
President," underlining that Sall is determined to fight his way to
the presidency.

Bernicat

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