Bassirou Diomaye Faye: Sénégal's System Restored, Not Revolutionized

• Despite Pastef's electoral victory on March 24, 2024, the underlying Senegalese system, rooted in colonialism, is seen as undergoing a restoration rather than a dismantling.
• This systemic reassertion is attributed to an ideology of submission fostered by institutions like schools, administration, jurists, and media, hindering the development of a rule of law state.
• The legal profession is criticized for prioritizing political authority over popular will, while economists are seen as detached from public welfare, reducing citizens to mathematical figures for debt restructuring.
• The presidency of Bassirou Diomaye Faye is viewed as signaling a return of the system, jeopardizing the sovereign project and representing a 'counter-revolution' against popular aspirations.
• Specific appointments and the return of former President Macky Sall for talks with his successor are cited as evidence of this systemic continuity and a perceived betrayal of popular suffrage.

The very system many believed was being dismantled appears to be undergoing a process of restoration, sustained by an ideology of submission fostered within educational institutions, administrative bodies, the legal profession, and media outlets, shaping the dynamics between governance, the state, and its citizens.

On March 24, 2024, the Pastef party secured political authority, yet observers note it has not fully gained control over the state apparatus itself. Despite the electoral victory, a fundamental critique suggests that the underlying system, deeply rooted in Senegal's colonial past, is not being dismantled but rather undergoing a process of restoration. This perspective posits that the ideology of submission, cultivated through educational institutions, administrative bodies, the legal profession, and media, continues to define the relationship between governance, the state, and its citizens.

This perceived reassertion of the established order, often termed a "counter-revolution," is seen as undermining the aspirations of the Senegalese people for a truly sovereign project. The analysis highlights a significant disparity between the methods employed to achieve power and those utilized in its exercise, indicating a continuity of systemic interests. The presidency of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in this view, signals a return of the very system the populace sought to overcome, potentially jeopardizing the revolutionary ideals that propelled his ascent.

The persistence of socio-political institutions, operating through both repression and the ideology of submission, is argued to stifle any genuine effort by political power to construct a robust rule of law state in Senegal. From this critical standpoint, the advent of the Pastef party to power has not fundamentally altered the system or its entrenched class interests. The analysis suggests that the system possesses a capacity to co-opt individuals, particularly jurist-énarques, who might otherwise challenge its structure.

Critics contend that Bassirou Diomaye Faye, despite being perceived as a revolutionary, lacks the conceptual depth necessary to resist the softening of the radical revolutionary stance he espoused before taking office. This perspective is reinforced by observations regarding the legal profession in Senegal; jurists are often seen as prioritizing political authority over the collective will of the populace, functioning more as technical implementers than conceptual architects. Their historical conduct during periods of legal crisis is cited as evidence of their deference to political power, rather than a commitment to popular aspirations or the independent construction of a just legal framework.

Beyond the legal sphere, a similar disconnect is observed within the economic establishment. Economists, much like their legal counterparts, are depicted as exhibiting a disregard for popular aspirations. The issue of hidden debt, in particular, is presented as a clear indicator of an economic elite significantly distanced from the everyday realities of the Senegalese people. This perspective suggests that within the prevailing economic paradigm, the economy is reduced to mere mathematical and financial calculations, transforming Senegalese citizens into abstract figures or liabilities to be managed, especially in the context of debt restructuring.

This technocratic approach to economics, which prioritizes mathematical models over political economy in the training of economists, is seen as a manifestation of adherence to capitalism. The appointments of Al Amine Lo as Prime Minister and the appointment of Cheikh Diba as Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning are cited as examples of a state economism that has lost sight of the actual well-being of the populace. The argument concludes that capitalism, through its imposition of credit-driven globalization, contributes to global impoverishment, further entrenching the systemic issues within Senegal.

The perceived restoration of the Senegalese system under the Bassirou Diomaye Faye administration carries significant implications for the nation's future and the integrity of its popular suffrage. The gap between the revolutionary rhetoric used to gain power and the practical exercise of that power is highlighted as a clear sign of this systemic re-entrenchment. This analysis views certain events, such as the return of former President Macky Sall on July 17, 2026, for talks with his successor regarding his UN Secretary-General candidacy, as symbolic acts that disrespect the sacrifices made by those who championed the revolution.

From this critical vantage point, the actions of the Bassirou Diomaye Faye administration are interpreted as a betrayal of the popular vote, an assault on the very suffrage that brought Pastef to power. The continued influence of colonial-rooted institutions and the perceived subservience of key professional bodies to political power are seen as actively hindering the construction of a truly democratic and sovereign state, perpetuating an unfortunate destiny for the people's aspirations.

Source: Original reporting via De la restauration, esquisse d’une contre-révolution au Sénégal