Doudou Ndir is no longer the boss of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Cena). The President of the Republic, Macky Sall, terminated his functions yesterday, as well as those of the members of the structure. The retired State Inspector General, Abdoulaye Sylla, is the new president of the Cena and will have as vice-president, the former senior magistrate Ndary Touré, who was until now Secretary General of the same entity. They will be assisted by 10 other new members.By Mamadou T. DIATTA –

A presidential kick in the anthill! A few three months before the 2024 Presidential election, the Head of State was quick to renew all the members who make up the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Cena). Starting with the president of the said structure, the former magistrate Doudou Ndir. The latter, in office since 2009, gives up his chair to Abdoulaye Sylla, retired Inspector General. Mr. Sylla will be assisted by a former senior magistrate named Ndary Touré. Mr. Touré was in the past First President of the Dakar Court of Appeal. Until now, he served as Secretary General of the Cena. These two new eminent members of the Cena will be supported by 10 other personalities also named, yesterday, by the President of The Republic.

Thus, we note the arrival of the retired Inspector General Cheikh Awa Balla, former Director General of the National Local Development Program (Pndl) and former CEO of the National School of Administration (Ena) which he left recently. The former Governor of the Dakar region and former Ambassador of Senegal to Portugal, Cheikh Tidiane Ndoye, as well as the former Regional Governor and former Director of General Affairs and Territorial Administration (Dagat), Léopold Wade, all retired civil administrators also sign their entry. Just like retired journalist Ndèye Rokhaya Mbodji. In the ranks of the new members, we find former Police Commissioner Mamadou Marème Diallo, retired university professors Serigne Amadou Ndiaye and Aminata Fall Niang. Bocar Niane, teacher, notary Aïssatou Sow and decentralization advisor Fatou Kiné Diop also appear in the list of new members of the Cena.

The correspondence from the Cena addressed to the Director General of Elections, ordering Thiendella Fall and services to submit endorsement forms to Ousmane Sonko following the decision of judge Sabassy Faye to cancel the removal of the leader of the ex-party Pastef, would not be unrelated to President Macky Sall’s decision to dismiss members of the structure led by Doudou Ndir. The latter’s mandate ended several years ago, but was maintained in his post by the head of state.

This Thursday, Ousmane Sonko’s lawyers once again contacted the Cena, asking it to use its discretionary power in handing over the endorsement forms to their client. A motivated approach with provisions of the Electoral Code and which follows the renewed refusal of the Dge to comply after the decision of the Ziguinchor District Court. The structure headed by Thiendella Fall had justified its refusal by the fact that the judicial decision in this case linked to the removal of Ousmane Sonko from the electoral lists is not yet a final
mdiatta@lequotidien.sn