Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
President Wade appoints son Energy Minister
Monday, 04 October 2010 21:28
By Kemo ChamPresident Abdoulaye Wade finally has sacked his Energy Minister, Samuel Sarr, Monday, amid growing tension over prolonged electricity cuts.
Just when it began to appear that the country’s chronic energy problems had been solved, protesters reemerged in the streets of Dakar and
elsewhere in Senegal, condemning the government for its failure to resolve the energy issue which has impacted greatly on the country’s economy. The charismatic son of the Senegalese leader, Karim Wade, is taking over responsibility for what appears to be Senegal’s most pressing issue today. The younger Wade is already the most senior minister in the government, in charge of international cooperation, air transport and infrastructures.
"Now Samuel Sarr has been appointed Minister of State and financial adviser to the presidency," Wade spokesman Serigne Mbacke Ndiaye, told Reuters. Such positions are normally without portfolios.
Even though some will consider this redeployment of the highly connected Samuel Sarr a demotion, his retention in government also suggest how important he remains to the Senegalese leader, who had ignored numerous protests calling on him to dismiss the former Energy Minister.
The worsening nature of Senegal’s energy problem, according to Reuters, prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to refer to it, last week, as a risk to the country’s tentative economic recovery.
Already, some rebellious religious leaders are calling on the Senegalese people to boycott electricity bills as a way of protesting what they see as government’s failure to meet its citizens’ demands.Shortages in cooking gas, most widely used for cooking in Senegal, have helped exacerbate the electricity problems.
All this have the effect of dampening President Wade’s controversial plan to run for re-election January next year. But for political observers in Senegal, this latest appointment of his son, Karim Wade, may just be a perfectly calculated move as part of his ultimately objective of meeting his goal, the much talked about “monarchical” succession to the presidency.
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Anti-cuts protest at Clegg's homeHundreds of anti-cuts protesters gather outside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's home in south-west London.
-
Egypt candidate to seek election suspension: lawyerCAIRO (Reuters) - Leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahy will file an appeal for Egypt's presidential election...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...