Amadou Ba, who only occupied strategic positions in the state apparatus, quickly became a heavyweight in the Sall regime, despite observations on his late joining the presidential party. At 61, his choice as Benno’s candidate for the 2024 Presidential election had become obvious confirming that he was the chosen runner-up since 2019.

In his book Macky Sall, behind the mask, Madiambal Diagne reveals that the Prime Minister was chosen since 2019 as the future successor of the head of state. Of course, the journey of the candidate chosen by Benno, at the heart of Sall’s power, amply corroborates this revelation by the journalist. After the failure of Amadou Kane at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, who was in a duo with Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, in charge of the Budget, President Sall undertook to change the software by incorporating new technocratic personalities into his government to boost his governance.

In 2013, Amadou Ba entered the government in force: Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning. When he came to power, President Sall found him at the head of the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains (Dgid). There he was surrounded by a group of tax and estate inspectors who supported him to the pinnacle. As a general rule, however, the first appointment decrees affect the tax and port administrations, which are the lifeblood of the State. Even if the intentions to change him were real, Macky Sall ultimately refrained from taking this path. Good luck to him.

We are at the dawn of the Emerging Senegal Plan (Pse) of which he became one of the architects with the holding of the first consultative group in Paris, which allowed the country to raise several hundred billion for its financing. After taking out the Apr membership card in 2016, Ba succeeded in winning the presidential coalition as head of Benno’s list in Dakar. He will not sit in the National Assembly, but he ends up as one of the pillars of Macky Sall’s first term.

Triumphantly re-elected, President Sall decides to give his five-year term a new direction.

Benno’s Candidacy for the 2024 Presidential Election: Amadou Ba, the Leader’s Choice

He changed his tune, dismembered the Mef which had too much power in his eyes, especially since the Prime Minister was removed from the institutional architecture. Amadou Ba will have to give up his chair to Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, who inherits the Ministry of Finance and Budget. Amadou Hott takes the remaining part: Ministry of Economy and Cooperation. Amadou Ba was offered the Ministry of Oil, which he declined, then agreed to go to Independence Square where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad sits. Everyone sees it: his enthusiasm to become the head of Senegalese diplomacy is not overwhelming. However, this remains a strategic position, but he went there backwards, as if it were a purgatory. However, the truth was not far away.

He changes his tune, dismembers the Mef which had too much power in his eyes, especially since the Prime Minister has been removed from the institutional architecture. Amadou Ba will have to give up his chair to Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, who inherits the Ministry of Finance and Budget. Amadou Hott takes the remaining part: Ministry of Economy and Cooperation. Amadou Ba was offered the Ministry of Oil, which he declined, then agreed to go to Independence Square where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad sits. Everyone sees it: his enthusiasm to become the head of Senegalese diplomacy is not overwhelming. However, this remains a strategic position, but he went there backwards, as if it were a purgatory. However, the truth was not far away.

In November 2020, President Sall, against all expectations, decided to fundamentally rework his government. There are departures which are perceived as a bolt from the blue, because he separates from remarkable identities of his power like Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, Oumar Youm, Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé and of course Amadou Ba, replaced by Aïssata Tall Sall. For several months, the latter lived on the fringes of the Sall regime. He is credited with wanting to free himself from Macky. He is pushed to rebellion by some who are already predicting a presidential destiny for him, especially since he is not even chosen to lead the Dakar list in the Local and Legislative elections of 2022.

Guided by his star, Amadou Ba managed to find resources to support this crossing of the desert: there was the patience and discipline that allowed him to return to the presidential fold. Like a Phoenix, he is reborn from his ashes. After the Pyrrhic victory of Benno’s legislative elections, President Sall turned to him to become head of government, after the Prime Minister’s office was resurrected. He is placed in September 2022, at the head of a “challenge and combat” team of 38 members including 8 women. Then finally designated as Benno’s candidate for the 2024 Presidential election. A predestined path in 2024? Few reasons to doubt it!

By Bocar SAKHO / bsakho@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH