Emerging Leaders and Political Dynamics in Francophone Africa: The Case of Senegal
Date: Wednesday 5^th June 2024
Time: 3pm – 4pm, Cameroon Time (GMT+1)
Venue: Online (Zoom), Register

 

1. Background 

On Sunday 25^th March 2024, over 7 million Senegalese were at the polls to elect their new President of the Republic. The final results revealed main opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as the winner right from the first round, counting more than 54.28% of the votes. He was followed by Amadou Ba, candidate of the ruling coalition, with about 36.43%. Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s breakthrough is quite extraordinary, as he was still in prison ten days before the presidential election. At 44 years old, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, former tax inspector, has become the youngest Head of State in Africa.

This election marks the end of Macky Sall’s presidency after twelve years in power; an end accompanied by a few disturbances. Firstly, there was an attempt on July 23, 2023 to dissolve PASTEF, the party to which Bassirou Diomaye Faye belonged, founded in 2014 by Ousmane Sonko. Secondly, Macky Sall’s attempt to extend his term of office, postpone the presidential election and shrink civic space by suspending the internet. All these attempts to close the civic space and violate the law were entirely rejected by the Constitutional Council acting as a last resort. Ousmane Sonko, the charismatic young leader and fighting brother of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, by creating PASTEF in 2014, has succeeded in putting forward a social project that in just 10 years has enabled him to become a key figure on the African political scene. The relevance of his project backed by a clear vision and rupture has seduced the people, and they have quickly embraced this “project”, which has won the hearts of the young population with its message of hope, opportunity and inclusion.

The situation in Senegal reveals the emergence of a new class of young leaders in Francophone Africa which is undergoing a geopolitical transition and where youths are increasingly placing demands on results and good governance. The case of Senegal is a catalyst that ought to push other African countries to re-examine their approaches to youths’ inclusion and create real opportunities for youths to shape the Continent’s future. In a bid to understand this new trans-generational dynamic in Francophone Africa, the Nkafu Policy Institute, think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation is organizing a webinar on the topic “Emerging Leaders and Political Dynamics in Francophone Africa: The Case of Senegal”.

2. Objectives 

This 60-minute webinar will focus on the recent updates concerning the presidential election of 25^th March 2024 in Senegal in order to analyze the current dynamics of the new class of emerging leaders in the geopolitical changes in Francophone Africa. Specifically, this webinar seeks to:

• Analyze the dynamics which led to a generational transition in Senegal;
• Analyze the possibility of Senegal’s case being replicated in other Francophone African countries;
• Examine the mechanisms to set up so as to build a new class of emerging leaders in Francophone Africa;
• Analyze future perspectives for an emerging Africa in terms of governance.

3. Expected Results

At the end of this webinar, participants will be enlightened on:

• The events preceding the recent presidential election in Senegal;
• The keys to Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s victory during the recent presidential election in Senegal;
• The ongoing trans-generational dynamics in Francophone Africa;
• The need to capitalize on young leaders in order to build a new era in Francophone Africa.

4. Target audience 

This webinar, organized by the Governance and Democracy Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute, is open to all (students, university scholars, researchers, CSOs, opinion leaders, general public, etc.)

5. Format and Structure

The event will be online on Zoom, and will be live streamed on the different social media platforms of the Nkafu Policy Institute and the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation. Discussions will be interactive, participants will be able to ask their questions to the panelists who will provide the required answers.

6. Event Date and Time 

The event will take place on Wednesday 5^th June 2024 from 3pm to 4pm, Cameroon time (GMT+1).

7. Panelists and Moderation 

Panelist 1: Dr Aristide Mono, PhD in Political Sciences, Policy Analyst-Cameroon
Panelist 2: Ms Ghaëls Babacar MBAYE, Jurist – Specialist in Program Management and Senegalese Civil Society activist
Panelist 3: Mr Fredéric Nkwady Ndecky, Program Manager at International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Moderator: Mr Fostin Ebenizer Fouefack, Director of programs and strategy, Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation, Yaoundé-Cameroon 

About the Nkafu Policy Institute

The Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent, in-depth and insightful policy recommendations that allows all Africans to prosper in free, fair, democratic and sustainable economies. The Institute is made up of analysts, experts and researchers from all over the world, working on a wide range of topics, including governance and democracy, health and education, peace and security, science and technology, and economic policy.

Contact: For more inquiries, kindly contact us via the following email address: [email protected] or via the following phone number: (+237) 222 31 15 84 / 654 86 72 54.