Aminata Touré, one of the most influential figures of the Macky Sall years, is enjoying a new political rejuvenation under Senegal’s new leaders.
She has been appointed High Representative of the Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The former prime minister under Macky Sall (2012-2024) is back in the limelight. After helping to elect President Bassirou Diomaye Faye last March, Aminata Touré was appointed High Representative of the President of the Republic on Tuesday. This is a strategic position for the head of state, the last person to hold it being Moustapha Niasse, former head of the National Assembly.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for my appointment as High Representative of the President of the Republic. I renew my total commitment to the emergence of a sovereign, just and prosperous Senegal,” said Ms. Touré, who is making a strong comeback in the affairs of the republic after being prevented from leading the National Assembly in September 2022.
At the head of the list of the presidential coalition, Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY, United for the Same Hope), in the July 2022 legislative elections, she toured the country and ended up with a relative majority of almost 50% in parliament.
Aminata Touré, who has held a number of senior ministerial and institutional posts, had hoped to be nominated by her camp and President Macky Sall to head the National Assembly, which would have been a first for a woman in Senegal.
However, Amadou Mame Diop was chosen by BBY, much to the frustration of the woman nicknamed Mimi Touré.
She was quick to take positions contrary to those of her camp, which eventually led to her being stripped of her mandate as an MP.
The former president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) then joined the opposition led by the Pastef party and Ousmane Sonko.
Following the annulment of her candidacy in the last presidential elections, she was one of the first opposition figures to rally behind Sonko’s candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the Diomaye Président coalition.
Five months after the election of President Faye, she continues to show her support for the new regime.
ODL/sf/te/lb/as/APA