Senegal-politics
Senegal's new government formed, Diouf granted immunity
DAKAR, April 4 (AFP) - Senegal's new Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse
late
on Monday announced the members of his new government, while former
president
Abdou Diouf and his family were granted immunity from prosecution.
The government will be made up of 26 ministers, mostly from the
Alternance
2000 coalition comprised of some 30 parties who backed President Abdoulaye
Wade in his election victory last month.
The ministerial team, which includes five women and some Senegalese
nationals from abroad, will oversee a transition period until legislative
elections are held in November.
A third of the posts have gone to members of Wade's Senegalese
Democratic
Party (SDP), while the three main ministries will be held by left-wing
leaders
from the Alliance coalition.
Landing Savane is minister for mines and industry, Abdoulaye Bathily
takes
over energy and Amath Dansoko was given the urban portfolio.
The interior ministry will be headed by retired general Mamadou Niang
while
the foreign ministry has been given to US resident Sheikh Tidiane Gadio.
Moctar Diop, also resident abroad, is now finance minister while higher
education went to Madior Diouf, a communications consultant.
The five women appointed include Aminata Tall, head of the SDP's women's
movement, who takes over the ministry for national solidarity and the
family.
The justice ministry went to magistrate Mame Madior Boye.
Niasse was appointed by Wade on Saturday after the new president was
sworn
in. He also named Idrissa Seck, the SDP's number two, as head of the new
cabinet with the rank of minister of state.
Meanwhile, Wade issued "immunity" from prosecution for Diouf and his
family, although none of them are currently facing a court case.
Wade ended Diouf's 19-year hold on power and 40 years of de facto one-
party
government when he won a clear victory in March 19 elections.
In a speech Monday marking the 40th anniversary Tuesday of Senegal's
independence the 74-year-old president vowed to combat corruption.
"I will not tolerate the practice of commissions more or less hidden,
corruption or misappropriation under any form whatsoever ... I want these
practices to be banned from Senegal," he said.
He said his decision to audit the state's accounts had been favourably
received in Senegal and abroad and it would go back as far in time as the
law
allowed.
Wade, when he was in opposition, supported giving a special status to
former African heads of state to encourage a movement towards democracy.
Speaking prior to the announcement of the new government, Wade said he
wanted "a government made up of virtuous ministers who put the interests of
the nation first."
He also said he would encourage the growth of a parliamentary regime,
stronger control of "the elected by the electors", and greater respect for
human rights.
He and the Alternance 2000 coalition which helped him to power, have
promised a "liberal alternative" in a wide-ranging programme to boost the
Senegalese economy.
Niasse has for his part said that health, security and employment will
be
his priorities.
bur-jng/sw/smc
sidi sanneh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
