Senegalese President Bessiro Diomaye Faye has carried out his first major cabinet reshuffle since coming to power eight months ago, marking a significant shift in the leadership of the government under Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
In the reshuffle, former parliamentarian Abbas Afale was appointed as the new Minister of Labour, Employment, and Business Relations.
Afale succeeds Yankuba Diemi, who has moved to a new role as Minister of Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Transport (both land and air).
This reshuffling reflects a strategic shift in key positions, as the president seeks to bolster the efficiency of his government.
Yankuba Diemi’s transition to the Ministry of Infrastructure follows the resignation of Malik Inday, who stepped down to focus on his new role as President of the Parliament.
Inday’s departure from the ministry marks the completion of his transition to the legislative branch, where the political party “Patriotes pour l’Action, l’Éthique et la Fraternité” (PASTIF) now holds a commanding majority of 130 out of 165 seats.
The reshuffle also comes at a time of significant political movement within the country.
As Malik Inday moved to Parliament, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko resigned from his parliamentary seat to continue his work as Prime Minister.
This reshuffle highlights the dynamic interplay between Senegal’s executive and legislative branches.
In a related political development, former President Macky Sall announced his resignation from his parliamentary role in favour of his successor on the coalition list “Tako Wallo”, a party that won 16 seats in the most recent elections.
This reshuffle underscores the broader shifts in Senegal’s political landscape and the consolidation of power within key sectors of government.
