Ousmane Ngom
Encyclopedia
Ousmane Alioune Ngom is a Senegal
ese politician, serving in the government of Senegal as Minister of State for the Interior since September 2010. As a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS), Ngom served as a minister in national unity governments from 1991 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1998. He split from the PDS to form his own party in 1998, but returned to the PDS in 2003. He was a presidential adviser from 2003 to 2004, and since 2004 he has again served as a minister in the government.
. He held a variety of positions within the Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS) from 1975 to 1998, while it was in opposition, and for a time he was the party's second ranking figure, after Secretary-General Abdoulaye Wade
. Over the years he served as the party's National Secretary for Press and Information, as Wade's spokesman for over 15 years, as National Secretary for Foreign Relations, and as Deputy Secretary-General. He was a member of the National Assembly
and President of the Liberal Parliamentary Group from May 1988 to March 1991. When the PDS participated in the government from April 1991 to October 1992, Ngom served as Minister of Labor and Professional Training. From 1993 to 1995 he was again a member of the National Assembly and President of the Liberal Parliamentary Group.
Following the assassination of Constitutional Council Vice-President Babacar Sèye in May 1993, Ngom was brought in for questioning along with Wade on May 18. He and Wade were among those charged with complicity in the murder on October 1, 1993, but he was not held in custody or put on trial, enjoying parliamentary immunity.
When the PDS joined the government for a second time, Ngom became Minister of Health and Social Action and served in that position from March 1995 to March 1998. The PDS leadership was rearranged on June 5, 1998, and Ngom lost his position as deputy leader of the party; he was named Permanent Secretary instead. He promptly resigned from the PDS on June 11 and announced the creation of a new party, the Senegalese Liberal Party
(PLS), on June 18.
Wade was elected as President in 2000. Ngom was elected to the National Assembly in the April 2001 parliamentary election
, winning his seat through national list proportional representation; he was the only PLS candidate to win a seat. He was also elected to the Municipal Council of Saint-Louis and the Regional Council of Saint-Louis
in May 2002. The PLS merged with the PDS in May 2003, and Ngom was appointed as Presidential Adviser for International Relations, with the rank of Minister, on August 14, 2003. He was then appointed to the government as Minister of Trade on July 19, 2004, before being moved to the position of Minister of the Interior in the government named on November 2, 2004.
In the government of Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, named on June 19, 2007, Ousmane remained Minister of the Interior and was promoted to the rank of Minister of State. On March 31, 2008, he was moved to the post of Minister of State for Mines, Industry, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
The Sopi Coalition was defeated in the March 2009 local election in Saint-Louis. Ousmane Masseck Ndiaye, the head of the Sopi candidate list and Mayor of Saint-Louis, accused Ngom of contributing to the defeat by engaging in "factional activities". Ngom's spokesman, in turn, compared Ndiaye to a general blaming his troops for losing a battle, and he said that Ndiaye should take responsibility for the defeat by resigning from his government and party positions. Following the election, both Ngom and Ndiaye were excluded from the government of Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye
, which was appointed on May 1, 2009. Ngom was succeeded in his ministry by Ibrahima Cissé. However, Wade reversed himself within days, reappointing Ngom to his post as Minister of State for Mines, Industry, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises on May 4.
On 11 September 2010, Wade moved Ngom back to the interior portfolio.
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, serving in the government of Senegal as Minister of State for the Interior since September 2010. As a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party
Senegalese Democratic Party
The Senegalese Democratic Party is a political party in Senegal. The party considers itself a liberal party and is a member of the Liberal International. Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's president, is the party's leader...
(PDS), Ngom served as a minister in national unity governments from 1991 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1998. He split from the PDS to form his own party in 1998, but returned to the PDS in 2003. He was a presidential adviser from 2003 to 2004, and since 2004 he has again served as a minister in the government.
Political career
Ngom, a lawyer by profession, was born in Saint-Louis, SenegalSaint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
. He held a variety of positions within the Senegalese Democratic Party
Senegalese Democratic Party
The Senegalese Democratic Party is a political party in Senegal. The party considers itself a liberal party and is a member of the Liberal International. Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's president, is the party's leader...
(PDS) from 1975 to 1998, while it was in opposition, and for a time he was the party's second ranking figure, after Secretary-General 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...
. Over the years he served as the party's National Secretary for Press and Information, as Wade's spokesman for over 15 years, as National Secretary for Foreign Relations, and as Deputy Secretary-General. He was a member of 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...
and President of the Liberal Parliamentary Group from May 1988 to March 1991. When the PDS participated in the government from April 1991 to October 1992, Ngom served as Minister of Labor and Professional Training. From 1993 to 1995 he was again a member of the National Assembly and President of the Liberal Parliamentary Group.
Following the assassination of Constitutional Council Vice-President Babacar Sèye in May 1993, Ngom was brought in for questioning along with Wade on May 18. He and Wade were among those charged with complicity in the murder on October 1, 1993, but he was not held in custody or put on trial, enjoying parliamentary immunity.
When the PDS joined the government for a second time, Ngom became Minister of Health and Social Action and served in that position from March 1995 to March 1998. The PDS leadership was rearranged on June 5, 1998, and Ngom lost his position as deputy leader of the party; he was named Permanent Secretary instead. He promptly resigned from the PDS on June 11 and announced the creation of a new party, the Senegalese Liberal Party
Senegalese Liberal Party
The Senegalese Liberal Party was a political party in Senegal from 1998 to 2003, led by Ousmane Ngom.The party was born through a split from the Senegalese Democratic Party...
(PLS), on June 18.
Wade was elected as President in 2000. Ngom was 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...
, winning his seat through national list proportional representation; he was the only PLS candidate to win a seat. He was also elected to the Municipal Council of Saint-Louis and the Regional Council of Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis Region
The Saint-Louis Region of Senegal is on the border with Mauritania. Its capital is Saint-Louis.Famous for its cast iron bridge, built by French colonialists in the 19th century, it is close to the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, home to thousands of birds, some indigenous to the...
in May 2002. The PLS merged with the PDS in May 2003, and Ngom was appointed as Presidential Adviser for International Relations, with the rank of Minister, on August 14, 2003. He was then appointed to the government as Minister of Trade on July 19, 2004, before being moved to the position of Minister of the Interior in the government named on November 2, 2004.
In the government of Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, named on June 19, 2007, Ousmane remained Minister of the Interior and was promoted to the rank of Minister of State. On March 31, 2008, he was moved to the post of Minister of State for Mines, Industry, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
The Sopi Coalition was defeated in the March 2009 local election in Saint-Louis. Ousmane Masseck Ndiaye, the head of the Sopi candidate list and Mayor of Saint-Louis, accused Ngom of contributing to the defeat by engaging in "factional activities". Ngom's spokesman, in turn, compared Ndiaye to a general blaming his troops for losing a battle, and he said that Ndiaye should take responsibility for the defeat by resigning from his government and party positions. Following the election, both Ngom and Ndiaye were excluded from the government of Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye
Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye
Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye is a Senegalese politician who was appointed as Prime Minister of Senegal on 30 April 2009. He was previously Minister of the Civil Service and Labour in 2005, Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic from 2005 to 2007, and Minister of State for the Maritime...
, which was appointed on May 1, 2009. Ngom was succeeded in his ministry by Ibrahima Cissé. However, Wade reversed himself within days, reappointing Ngom to his post as Minister of State for Mines, Industry, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises on May 4.
On 11 September 2010, Wade moved Ngom back to the interior portfolio.