Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye has recently confirmed the controversial appointment of General Souleymane Kandé as the country’s defense and security attaché in India. The former head of the army is set to assume his new post at the Senegalese Embassy in New Delhi on March 1. His assignment decree was officially signed on January 23, nearly nine months after the initial announcement of his transfer.

General Kandé’s appointment, long perceived as a form of ostracization, sparked significant controversy when it was first made public last year. Many viewed the decision as a demotion rather than a routine diplomatic posting, given his distinguished military career.

The appointment even led to the questioning of a journalist, the director of a major daily publication, by the Research Section in Dakar after the journalist dared to question the pertinence of the general’s reassignment—highlighting the sensitive nature of the decision.

Having played a decisive role in neutralizing armed rebel factions in Casamance, General Kandé is widely credited with leading operations that restored state control over several conflict-ridden areas.

His military leadership, particularly in securing regions such as Niaguiss, Bindialoum Manjaque, and Bissine, allowed displaced populations to return after years of instability. His efforts, which culminated in the pacification of the southern border region with Guinea-Bissau, earned him a promotion to brigadier general and command of the special forces—one of the elite units of the Senegalese military.

However, his rise was abruptly curtailed following political shifts in the country. His reassignment to India has fueled speculation that both the military hierarchy and political leadership sought to remove him from an influential command role.

Some observers argue that his success in Casamance may have unsettled political figures who failed to achieve the same results in previous administrations.

Despite the widespread criticism and speculation surrounding his transfer, the Senegalese government has now made the decision official. With the decree signed and published, General Kandé will take up his new role in India—leaving behind both his battlefield legacy and lingering questions about the true motives behind his reassignment.