At a forum held in Mbour, south of Dakar, the Mouvement autonome chrétien pour le développement durable (MAC 20) issued a strong call for Senegalese Christians to intensify their political involvement ahead of upcoming legislative elections. The event, convened in February 2017, brought together religious leaders, activists, and policymakers to discuss Christian leadership and political participation.
The gathering took place under the patronage of Augustin Tine, then-Minister of Armed Forces, aligning with the July legislative vote. During the discussions, Emile Daly Diouf, President of MAC 20, emphasized that despite Christians being a minority in Senegal, their political presence remains disproportionately weak. He urged the community to take a more assertive role in shaping national policies.
Bridging faith and governance
Diouf stressed that while individual Christians are active in political parties, there is a critical absence of cohesive Christian leadership in decision-making circles. “We want our engagement to be more substantial—Christians must occupy spaces where key decisions are made,” he stated. The movement also signaled its openness to endorsing presidential candidates in 2019, though not fielding its own. “Our role is to support capable leaders who share our values, not to run for office ourselves,” he explained.
Underrepresentation in the national assembly
Highlighting the stark statistics, Hélène Tine, a Christian parliamentarian and one of only three Christians in the 150-seat assembly, pointed to systemic barriers. “We are full citizens yet remain sidelined in political representation,” she observed. The current parliament includes just three Christians—one of whom is Hélène Tine—among 64 female deputies. She attributed this gap to restrictive placement on electoral lists, which often relegate Christian candidates to non-electable positions.
Tine, who entered politics at the urging of bishops, called for broader collaboration between Christian communities and political parties to foster inclusivity. “Senegal’s strength lies in its diversity. We must nurture this tradition by ensuring fair representation,” she concluded.