The political landscape of Sénégal has once again turned its gaze to the Macky Sall administration with the public unveiling of a new book by Oumar Demba Bâ, the former diplomatic advisor to the outgoing president. Held in Dakar, the event brought together politicians, diplomats, and analysts to discuss a work that promises to shed light on the inner workings of the presidential governance from 2012 to 2024. Among the highlights was the testimony of Me Aïssata Tall Sall, who served as Sénégal’s foreign minister, adding depth and significance to the book’s narrative.
Behind the scenes: a diplomatic memoir of Macky Sall’s presidency
Oumar Demba Bâ spent years in the corridors of the Sénégal presidential palace, shaping the nation’s stance on major regional and international issues. As Macky Sall’s diplomatic advisor, he played a pivotal role in preparing positions for CEDEAO summits, Sahel mediation efforts, and multilateral meetings in cities like Addis-Abeba, New York, and Paris. His book offers an insider’s perspective on the decision-making processes that defined a dozen years of Sénégal’s political life.
This publication is part of a growing trend where former government officials document their experiences post-transition. Such accounts, though still uncommon in West African political traditions, provide valuable institutional memory for researchers, diplomats, and policymakers inheriting past administrations’ challenges.
Me Aïssata Tall Sall’s revelations on Sénégal’s foreign policy
During the book launch, Me Aïssata Tall Sall shared detailed insights into how Macky Sall shaped Sénégal’s foreign policy. As the last foreign minister of the administration, she emphasized the close working relationship between the president and Oumar Demba Bâ. She described their dynamic as a partnership where the advisor acted as a crucial yet discreet bridge between the head of state and Sénégal’s international partners.
The former minister revisited key diplomatic challenges handled by Dakar during this period, including Sénégal’s presidency of the African Union in 2022, regional tensions involving Mali and Burkina Faso, and relations with Western capitals. She praised Bâ’s meticulous approach, portraying him as a silent architect behind Sénégal’s international positioning. These reflections lend the book an authoritative documentary value beyond personal recollection.
A memoir amid a politically charged transition
The timing of the book’s release is significant. Since Bassirou Diomaye Faye assumed office in April 2024, investigations have scrutinized the previous administration’s policies, particularly regarding public finances and strategic contracts. Statements from former officials of Macky Sall’s regime are being closely watched by both political circles and Sénégal’s civil society.
The book, however, is not a score-settling exercise. Early readers describe it as an attempt to contextualize, with Bâ defending his former boss’s diplomatic legacy while acknowledging the constraints and trade-offs that influenced decisions in the presidential palace. This approach mirrors the post-tenure reflections of former presidential advisors in countries like France or Côte d’Ivoire, where ex-officials publish their accounts to shape historical narratives.
For analysts, the book’s value lies in its content and the signal it sends: outgoing leaders intend to remain influential in Sénégal’s public discourse, including through intellectual contributions. The reception among Sénégalais readers and regional diplomatic circles remains to be seen, especially in a country where debates about the last decade’s governance remain intense.
