Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The Préfet of Dakar, Mamadou Lamine Ngom, has officially declared Barthélémy Toye Dias “Dismissed” from his position as municipal councilor of the City of Dakar. This decision de facto triggers Barthelemey Dias’ removal from his position as Mayor of Dakar. The announcement, made on Friday, December 13, 2024, through a press release, “Follows legal provisions outlined in articles L.29, L.30, and L.277 of Senegal’s Electoral Code“, according to the Préfet of Dakar, the administrative authority representing the government in the city of Dakar.

The decision to dismiss Barthelemy Dias stems from a request filed by Bayna Guèye, a voter in the Mermoz-Sacré Cœur commune where Dias was a mayor. “Guèye’s submission referenced Dias’ prior conviction by the High Court of Dakar on February 16, 2017, under decision no. 219, which was upheld by the Dakar Court of Appeal on September 21, 2022,” the government’s press release explained.

A subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed on December 22, 2023, rendering Dias’ ineligibility “irrevocable,” according to the government’s statement.

This comes only a week after Barthélémy Dias was formally kicked off the list of national assembly deputies, demonstrating the new Senegalese government’s strong stance against making amends with a former political ally who has since been labeled a fierce rival.

Ousmane Diagne, the Senegalese Minister of Justice, offered an explanation for the dismissal of Barthélémy Dias as a deputy in accordance with constitutional obligations.

He also hinted at the possibility of Dias being dismissed from his role as mayor of Dakar. “Obviously, if the same causes producing the same effects were reproduced, it would be without qualms,” he remarked, suggesting the removal order notified to Barthelemy Dias today.

Notification and Execution

Dias was served with an official notification of his resignation on Friday. Police Commissioner Ismaïla Goudiaby, Head of Urban Security in Dakar, delivered the document to Dias at his residence in Sicap Baobab. The notification confirmed that Dias’ mandate as a municipal councilor had been terminated.

The Prefect’s decision was communicated to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of the Interior, Dakar City Council, and the Central Police Commissioner, to ensure its enforcement.

Implications for Dias

This administrative move is set to have significant political repercussions for Barthélémy Dias. It de facto leads to his dismissal from the mayoral office of Dakar, where he has served since February 2022.

Dias, a prominent figure in Senegalese politics, faces a challenging period as his political career undergoes this latest blow.