Senegal: Barthélémy Dias stripped of his position as deputy

A decision based on a criminal conviction

Barthélémy Dias, mayor of Dakar and an emblematic figure in Senegalese politics, has been stripped of his mandate as a member of parliament. The news was announced on Friday, December 6, 2024 by the President of the National Assembly, El Malick Ndiaye , who invoked the Constitution and the institution’s internal regulations.

This decision stems from a final judicial conviction for homicide. In 2017, Barthélémy Dias was found guilty of the shooting death of a person in 2011, in a context of political violence. His sentence of two years, including six months in prison, was confirmed on appeal in 2022 and validated by the Supreme Court in 2023.

The implications of this radiation

Strict application of the texts

The removal of Barthélémy Dias is part of the constitutional rules according to which a member of parliament convicted of a criminal offence cannot sit. The Minister of Justice had requested his removal from the Assembly, a request ratified by the Constitutional Council.

Political consequences

Barthélémy Dias, who had retained his seat as a member of parliament after the November 2024 legislative elections despite growing political tensions, sees his career take an uncertain turn. He could also be dismissed from his post as mayor of Dakar, following a precedent set with Khalifa Sall in 2018.

His removal illustrates the upheaval in Senegal’s political landscape, dominated by Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef , a former ally turned rival of Dias. This party won the presidential elections of March 2024 and now holds 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly.

Context of tensions with Pastef

Barthélémy Dias was elected mayor of Dakar in 2022 in a coalition including Pastef , led by Ousmane Sonko, then Macky Sall’s main opponent. However, deep disagreements emerged between the two men in 2023. They accused each other of treason in the context of a tense election campaign.

This political fracture weakened the position of Dias, whose list only obtained three seats in the legislative elections of November 2024.

Conclusion: a new stage in political restructuring

The fall of Barthélémy Dias marks a new episode in the transformation of the Senegalese political landscape. With Pastef consolidating its domination, once influential figures like Dias seem to have been relegated to the background.

This situation highlights internal power dynamics and could usher in other landmark decisions, particularly regarding the position of mayor of Dakar. For Barthélémy Dias, this turning point represents a crucial challenge for his political survival.