Senegal-Former National Assembly Chairman Creates his own

UNCLAS DAKAR 001395 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL AND INR/AA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KDEM ECON SG SUBJECT: Senegal-Former National Assembly Chairman Creates his own Party ¶1. (U) Summary: On December 2, the recently ousted Chairman of the National Assembly, Macky Sall, called a press conference at the Hotel Teranga to announce the creation of his party. He announced that his new party is APR-Yakaar (Alliance for the Republic and the Wolof word for hope-Yakaar). End Summary. ¶2. (U) In announcing his new party Sall remarked that Senegal is at crossroads and it was necessary to "dare to take a new turn to create a democratic and free Senegal where people are thirsty for change." He then revealed that "Work, Solidarity and Dignity" was the motto of his party and he called for an ethical revival to confront the country's economic and political crisis. He denounced the underutilization of human resources in Senegal and called for "a new leadership based on dialogue and consensus that banishes arrogance and violence," thus indirectly criticizing Wade's government without naming him. ¶3. (U) The principal conference room that he used ended up being too small for the thousand plus people that came and many were packed in adjoining conference rooms and corridors in what was a festive atmosphere. Leading opposition parties were represented at the launching ceremony including Madieyna Diouf, the number two of AFP (Alliance of the Forces of Progress) and Oumar Sarr, one the closest aides of former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, who, like Sall, was ousted and then cut ties with the ruling party to prepare for Wade's succession. The dominant slogan of his supporters was "Macky President," underlining that Sall is determined to fight his way to the presidency. Bernicat