Amath Dansokho
Encyclopedia
Amath Dansokho is a Senegal
ese politician and the Secretary-General of the Party of Independence and Work (PIT). He served in the government of Senegal as Minister of Urban Planning and Housing from 1991 to 1995 and again briefly in 2000; he is also a former Mayor of Kédougou
.
Dansokho was born in Kédougou. He was a member of the African Independence Party
from 1957 to 1959 and lived in exile from 1960 to 1977. In 1983 he was first elected to the National Assembly
as a PIT candidate, and he became Secretary-General of the PIT in 1984, following the death of Seydou Cissokho. He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a PIT candidate in 1988.
From April 1991 to September 1995, Dansokho served in the government as Minister of Urban Planning and Housing; he was re-elected to the National Assembly in 1993 and 1998. Subsequently he supported opposition candidate Abdoulaye Wade
in the 2000 presidential election
, and after Wade's victory he was named Minister of Urban Planning and Housing in the new government formed in April 2000. However, he became critical of Wade and was dismissed from the government in November 2000, becoming the first of Wade's leftist allies from the 2000 election to be jettisoned.
As a candidate on his party's national list, Dansokho was the only PIT candidate to be elected to the National Assembly in the April 2001 parliamentary election
. He also served as the Eighth Vice-President of the National Assembly during the parliamentary term that followed the election.
Speaking in 2002, Dansokho said that Wade was too arrogant and that his relations with other African leaders were lacking due to that characteristic; he also said that "if [Wade] had become president of Senegal in the 1960's, he would have proclaimed himself emperor."
The PIT joined the Coalition Alternative 2007 for the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections. In December 2006, Moustapha Niasse
was designated as the coalition's candidate in the February 2007 presidential election
and Dansokho was designated to head the coalition's list in the parliamentary election
, which was later scheduled to be held in June 2007. After the presidential election, in which Wade was re-elected, Wade mentioned Dansokho as one of several opposition politicians who would be facing prosecution for corruption. Dansokho was accused of selling lands around the international airport while he was Minister of Urban Planning and of embezzling 17 million CFA franc
s as mayor of Kédougou. He dismissed these charges, calling Wade a coward. Dansokho, acting as spokesman for 12 opposition parties, announced a boycott of the parliamentary election on April 2, 2007, and as a result of this the PIT did not participate in the election.
Dansokho was not included on the municipal candidate list of the Benno Siggil Senegaal opposition coalition for Kédougou in the March 2009 local elections. According to Dansokho, he had already told the PIT Secretariat that he did not want to be Mayor again due to poor health, but he still felt able to serve as a municipal councillor; nevertheless, he was not included on the opposition's municipal list. Dansokho said that he was excluded from the candidate list because he was known to be averse to corruption. He remained a regional councillor.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese politician and the Secretary-General of the Party of Independence and Work (PIT). He served in the government of Senegal as Minister of Urban Planning and Housing from 1991 to 1995 and again briefly in 2000; he is also a former Mayor of Kédougou
Kédougou
Kédougou is a town in southeastern Senegal at 12.56 degrees N. latitude and 12.21 degrees W, longitude and at an elevation of 547 feet above sea level. Founded by the Diahanké people, Kédougou means the "Land of Man". The town lies on the N7 road and the River Gambia amid the Pays Bassari hills...
.
Dansokho was born in Kédougou. He was a member of the African Independence Party
African Independence Party
African Independence Party was a communist party in French West Africa . PAI was founded in Thiès, Senegal in 1957...
from 1957 to 1959 and lived in exile from 1960 to 1977. In 1983 he was first elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Senegal
The National Assembly of Senegal is the lower house of Senegal's parliament.-The current National Assembly:The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 29 April 2001, has a total of 150 elected members who serve five-year terms. The electoral system is a mixed member...
as a PIT candidate, and he became Secretary-General of the PIT in 1984, following the death of Seydou Cissokho. He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a PIT candidate in 1988.
From April 1991 to September 1995, Dansokho served in the government as Minister of Urban Planning and Housing; he was re-elected to the National Assembly in 1993 and 1998. Subsequently he supported opposition candidate Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974...
in the 2000 presidential election
Senegalese presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Senegal on 27 February 2000, with a second round taking place on 19 March after no candidate won over 50% of votes in the first round...
, and after Wade's victory he was named Minister of Urban Planning and Housing in the new government formed in April 2000. However, he became critical of Wade and was dismissed from the government in November 2000, becoming the first of Wade's leftist allies from the 2000 election to be jettisoned.
As a candidate on his party's national list, Dansokho was the only PIT candidate to be elected to the National Assembly in the April 2001 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 2001
An election for the National Assembly of Senegal was held on 29 April 2001. The election was held under the new constitution approved by referendum earlier in the year...
. He also served as the Eighth Vice-President of the National Assembly during the parliamentary term that followed the election.
Speaking in 2002, Dansokho said that Wade was too arrogant and that his relations with other African leaders were lacking due to that characteristic; he also said that "if [Wade] had become president of Senegal in the 1960's, he would have proclaimed himself emperor."
The PIT joined the Coalition Alternative 2007 for the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections. In December 2006, Moustapha Niasse
Moustapha Niasse
Moustapha Niasse is a Senegalese politician and diplomat. He served in the government of Senegal as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1978 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1998. He was Prime Minister of Senegal for a few weeks in 1983, and he held that position again from 2000 to 2001.-Political...
was designated as the coalition's candidate in the February 2007 presidential election
Senegalese presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held in Senegal on 25 February 2007. The incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, who was first elected in 2000, won the election in the first round with almost 56% of the vote.-Date of the election:...
and Dansokho was designated to head the coalition's list in the parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal on 3 June 2007. They had originally been planned to be held together with the presidential election on 25 February 2007, but were postponed. 14 parties or coalitions participated in the election, in which the composition of the National Assembly, with...
, which was later scheduled to be held in June 2007. After the presidential election, in which Wade was re-elected, Wade mentioned Dansokho as one of several opposition politicians who would be facing prosecution for corruption. Dansokho was accused of selling lands around the international airport while he was Minister of Urban Planning and of embezzling 17 million CFA franc
CFA franc
The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc...
s as mayor of Kédougou. He dismissed these charges, calling Wade a coward. Dansokho, acting as spokesman for 12 opposition parties, announced a boycott of the parliamentary election on April 2, 2007, and as a result of this the PIT did not participate in the election.
Dansokho was not included on the municipal candidate list of the Benno Siggil Senegaal opposition coalition for Kédougou in the March 2009 local elections. According to Dansokho, he had already told the PIT Secretariat that he did not want to be Mayor again due to poor health, but he still felt able to serve as a municipal councillor; nevertheless, he was not included on the opposition's municipal list. Dansokho said that he was excluded from the candidate list because he was known to be averse to corruption. He remained a regional councillor.