Senegal: Fighter for Justice Appointed New PM

5 September 2013
allAfrica.com

Senegal's President Macky Sall this week dissolved the cabinet led by Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye and appointed Aminata Touré in his place.

Aminata Touré is only the second woman to hold the post in the history of the country, after Mame Madior Boye, who served between 2001 and 2002.

Ms. Touré earned much respect in Senegal in her role as justice minister. It was during her tenure that the judicial process against former Chad dictator Hissène Habré saw great progress, leading up to his arrest in Senegal earlier this year. Also under her leadership, the fight against corruption and illegally-acquired wealth was intensified, seeing millions of francs held by corrupt officials in foreign banks repatriated.

The reason given for the dissolution of the previous cabinet was the slow pace of reform and its inability to deliver on election promises, notably, curbing youth unemployment and improving the standard of living.

Other reasons for Mbaye's removal reported in media outlets include his past association with Habré, who is now on trial for crimes against humanity. It is being reported that the former prime minister was Habré's private banker. There are also reports about growing dissatisfaction in the ruling alliance about the distribution of positions in the government.

See more on our French site:  Nouveau gouvernement - Aminata Touré fera-t-elle mieux?

Below is the list of members of the new cabinet made public by Prime Minister Aminata Touré:

Augustin Tine - Armed Forces

Awa Marie Coll Seck - Health and Social Affairs

Mankeur Ndiaye - Foreign Affairs and Diaspora

Sidiki Kaba - Justice and Keeper of the Seal

Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo - Interior Minister

Amadou Ba - Economy and Finance

Papa Abdoulaye Seck - Agriculture

Diène Farba Sarr - Investment

Mor Ngom - Development

Thierno Alassane Sall - Infrastructure and Transport

Anta Sarr - Minister of Women, Family and Children

Abdoulaye Baldé - Planning

Story adapted and translated from the French original by Michael Tantoh.

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