Senegalese researcher Pape Ibrahima Kane has explained the primary goals of President-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye in terms of economic, monetary, and diplomatic sovereignty in an interview with RFI.
Mr. Kane emphasizes that “the state’s sovereignty over its natural resources,” such as gas, oil, phosphates, or zircon, is Mr. Faye’s main goal. In his election manifesto, he uses the phrase “sovereignty” eighteen times and says he will “renegotiate contracts” that are already in place with foreign energy companies like BP or Kosmos Energy.
In relation to current offshore oil and gas contracts, the researcher thinks there’s insufficient data to support the assertions made by departing President Macky Sall that “the Senegalese state already has a majority share.” He makes the point that further talks might be held, particularly with Senegal’s neighbor, Mauritania, with whom it shares similar resources.
Pape Ibrahima Kane thinks the incoming president will also have “the opportunity to challenge many of these contracts” in the fishing industry, which were given to foreign firms by Senegalese who subsequently subleased them. This would be an attempt to satisfy the grievances of the local fishermen regarding the lack of fishery resources.
Politically, Mr. Kane believes that the declared goal to “move away from neo-colonialism” may result in the closure of French military installations that have been in Senegal since the country’s independence in 1960. In addition, he anticipates that defense accords tying the nation to France will be renegotiated.
The researcher observes that Mr. Faye has taken a “more realistic” stance with regard to the common currency, the CFA franc, by bringing up the eco, the future currency of ECOWAS, before talking about a national currency. Even so, Senegal’s departure would make the CFA franc even more worthless, as Côte d’Ivoire would no longer be its principal backer.
Mr. Kane believes it is improbable that Senegal will turn toward Russia in the international arena because it now has “excellent economic relations” and a non-alignment strategy in place. But the next president might be able to convince Mali to rejoin ECOWAS by using his connections there.
In conclusion, Pape Ibrahima Kane thinks President Faye will handle foreign policy, and Ousmane Sonko—a major contributor to his win—may be given national policy responsibilities.
