The invitation of French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon to Senegal by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko could not be more inappropriate.  Ousmane Sonko was certainly keen to point out that the invitation was extended to a political ally, perhaps a “comrade”, on behalf of his political party Pastef’s international relations. We could have accepted this way of presenting things, if Pastef and the “Insoumis” had any ongoing relations or companionship on the international scene prior to the day of the visit, or if Ousmane Sonko earlier met Jean-Luc Mélenchon or at least had sent him an invitation or missive of some kind. Nothing of the sort. The invitation came as a surprise, but turned out to be a bad move for the Senegalese Prime Minister and his political camp. It’s a win-win situation for Mélenchon, who no longer holds an elective office, but a major blunder for his host.

Following in the footsteps of some of South America’s fading dictatorships, other official authorities in a country find Mélenchon acceptable enough to invite him and roll out the red carpet. That Senegal should take the same political and diplomatic line shows just how narrow-minded our leaders are! This invitation may have given Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose popularity has plummeted in his own party “La France Insoumise” and even more so in his country’s political establishment, a platform at a prestigious university to put on a show. He may have sought to appeal to an electorate of African origin living in France. It is worth noting, however, that he wisely refrained from launching diatribes or digs at Emmanuel Macron. Indeed, it is a well-established tradition among French politicians not to attack their country’s leaders from abroad. No doubt the new Senegalese authorities will learn a lesson from this. Ousmane Sonko, on the other hand, lacked the same restraint, tact and propriety. In a provocative move, he took the liberty of criticizing Emmanuel Macron’s policies, to the applause of his supporters. France will appreciate. Need we remind him that the French head of state cannot be his alter ego or interlocutor? The result?

Senegal has everything to lose in this operation,

Ousmane Sonko has always criticized our leaders’ close relations with their French counterparts. He has seen this as a form of subservience. Such oppositionist rhetoric is nothing new in Africa, where “France-Africa” has been conveniently denounced by anyone in opposition who claims to be even remotely “pan-Africanist” or concerned about the interests of the African people. Once in power, Pastef leaders are quick to show their closeness to other French political circles. This vindicates Léopold Sédar Senghor, who mischievously retorted to his opponent Cheikh Anta Diop that “everyone has his Frenchman and, on occasion, his Frenchwoman”. Quite a story!

Advocacy for homosexuals at Ucad by Mélenchon

In the case in point, it should be noted that Senegal cannot, for the time being, draw a line under its relations with its leading economic partner, France. So, what position will Ousmane Sonko’s government take in front of the official French authorities to discuss partnership, even though it is undoubtedly Senegal that is in urgent need of France, and not the other way round? 

What kind of benevolence could Senegal expect from France, whose Prime Minister publicly criticizes and offers an “official” platform to an opponent whom President Macron would not like to see even in paint? We all know the retaliatory measures the French government took against Senegal after President Macky Sall granted an audience to Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, in January 2023. Yet Macky Sall’s regime was reputed to have better relations with the “Macronists” than the current Diomaye-Sonko tandem. Macky Sall was briefly visited by a spirit of sovereignty!  Would Macron’s France, which withheld part of the budgetary aid granted to Senegal after this episode, do more violence to itself, or demonstrate its transcendence, to the point of doing more for the new government than it had done for Macky Sall, particularly when it came to dealing with issues such as debt servicing or new financing, or bringing Senegal’s concerns to the attention of the Bretton-Woods institutions? More than ever, Senegal will need the support of the French Executive Directors on the Board of the International Monetary Fund in the weeks ahead. It’s not certain that they’ll take their instructions from Jean-Luc Mélenchon! If Ousmane Sonko wants to provoke or thumb his nose at Emmanuel Macron, he may have to learn the hard way.

The President of the Republic, for his part, seems to be sticking to a certain “normality” and continues to tell anyone who will listen that he wishes to have normal relations with France.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye did not receive Mélenchon
Do the twists and turns of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s visit to Dakar reveal a certain cacophony or duality at the top of the State between Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President of the Republic Bassirou Diomaye Faye? The Head of State has not met the “great guest”, who spent four days in Senegal from May 14 to 18, 2024. In any case, no one is aware of such an audience. To many observers, this seems an incongruity. Is this a sharing of roles between the President and his Prime Minister, the latter staying on the terrain of populism while the Head of State maintains diplomatic propriety?  Just where many would be mistaken for a long time? In any case, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s visit has given rise to a controversy that is highly damaging to Prime Minister Sonko’s image. His declared “tolerance” for the Lgbt cause stands in stark contrast to his previous declarations. He has always built his political propaganda on promises to fight fiercely against Freemasonry and homosexuality. Ousmane Sonko and his supporters accused President Macky Sall’s regime of promoting such societal counter-values in Senegal. In fact, drawing many religious circles into the movement. The invitation to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and especially his speech advocating the Lgbt cause, sounded as a denial of their professions of faith.

An American Carnage Made In Senegal

Macky Sall was unambiguous in his refusal to do so in front of US President Barack Obama. The other negative aspect of Ousmane Sonko’s initiative is that a Prime Minister who finds himself in a position to deal with the most urgent issues of his general policy statement, or to keep his promises to reduce the cost of living, or even to organize state services, prefers to find time to receive a guest who does not represent a government, and to discuss ideological questions.  Indeed, priorities should be elsewhere, such as finalizing the famous Project, sold as a dream to the Senegalese, and at least finally settle in and take charge of state affairs, before getting busy hosting public conferences.

Does it bother Ousmane Sonko so much that Bassirou Diomaye Faye is active on the international scene, while he himself is not yet visible? Is this the reason why the Prime Minister, who has not yet visited the interior of his own country, would like to engage in “diplomacy” on behalf of his political party, and has thus announced yet another trip abroad to visit the putschist regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger? Ironically, he won’t have the pretext of so-called relations between political parties to maintain in these countries. As far as we know, these regimes hardly rely on political formations, but on the firepower of their artillery against their populations! Incidentally, should we be teaching him that diplomacy remains one of the most reserved domains of the President of the Republic? At this rate, it will be difficult not to believe in an atmosphere of rivalry or competition between the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic… It is very premature; it must be said!

By Madiambal DIAGNE / mdiagne@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH