Pape Diop
Encyclopedia
Pape Diop is a Senegal
ese politician and a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS) who has been President of the Senate of Senegal
since 2007. He was Mayor of Dakar
, the capital city, from 2002 to 2009, as well as President of the National Assembly of Senegal
from 2002 to 2007.
Diop was born in Dakar. He joined the PDS in 1974 and was Treasurer-General of the PDS from 1992 to 1997. He was elected to the National Assembly as a PDS candidate from Dakar Department
in the May 1993 parliamentary election
and was re-elected in the May 1998 parliamentary election
and the April 2001 parliamentary election
.
He was elected as Mayor of Dakar on May 12, 2002, receiving 52% of the vote and defeating long-time mayor Mamadou Diop
. Pape Diop, a wealthy businessman who was the CEO of a seafood export company, Soumex SA, was still a relatively unknown figure at this time, but was backed by President Abdoulaye Wade
and Minister of State Idrissa Seck
.
Diop became President of the National Assembly in June 2002 in addition to his position as Mayor of Dakar. Within the PDS, Diop was a member of the party's Steering Committee and National Secretariat as of 2002. He served as President of the National Assembly until June 2007, when he was replaced by former Prime Minister Macky Sall
; Diop was expected to become President of the Senate, which was being re-established.
Diop did not run in the 2007 Senate election
and was instead one of the 65 Senators appointed by Wade. He was elected as President of the Senate on October 3, 2007; as the only candidate for the position, he received the votes of 99 of the 100 Senators. As Senate President, Diop would constitutionally succeed Wade if the latter is unable to finish his term.
Diop was again a candidate in the March 2009 local election in Dakar, but the opposition Bennoo Siggil Senegal won an overwhelming victory. On April 18, 2009, Khalifa Sall of the Socialist Party was elected to succeed Diop as Mayor of Dakar; Diop himself was not present for the vote. Sall took office as Mayor on April 20. Diop was present for the ceremony and expressed pride in his work as Mayor, as well as confidence in Sall's abilities, despite their political differences. For his part, Sall spoke positively of Diop, but his supporters booed Diop on the occasion.
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 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) who has been President of the Senate of Senegal
Senate of Senegal
The Senate of Senegal has been the upper house of the Parliament of Senegal from 1999 until 2001 and again since 2007.-History and elections:...
since 2007. He was Mayor of Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, the capital city, from 2002 to 2009, as well as President of the National Assembly of Senegal
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...
from 2002 to 2007.
Diop was born in Dakar. He joined the PDS in 1974 and was Treasurer-General of the PDS from 1992 to 1997. He was elected to the National Assembly as a PDS candidate from Dakar Department
Dakar Department
Dakar Department is one of the departments of Senegal, located in the Dakar Region.The département of Dakar is one of the four départements of the Dakar région, which is one of the 11 régions of Senegal. The Dakar région encompasses the city of Dakar and all its suburbs along the Cape Verde Peninsula...
in the May 1993 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 1993
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal on 9 May 1993. The result was a victory for the ruling Socialist Party, which won 84 of the 120 seats. Voter turnout was around 41%.-Results:...
and was re-elected in the May 1998 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 1998
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal on 24 May 1998. The result was a victory for the ruling Socialist Party, which won 93 of the 140 seats...
and 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 was elected as Mayor of Dakar on May 12, 2002, receiving 52% of the vote and defeating long-time mayor Mamadou Diop
Mamadou Diop (politician)
Mamadou Diop is a Senegalese politician, and a member of the central committee of the Socialist Party of Senegal. Diop was the mayor of the capital city of Dakar for 18 years between 1984 and 2002.He is a member of the Lebou ethnic group.- Further reading :...
. Pape Diop, a wealthy businessman who was the CEO of a seafood export company, Soumex SA, was still a relatively unknown figure at this time, but was backed by President 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...
and Minister of State Idrissa Seck
Idrissa Seck
Idrissa Seck is a Senegalese politician who was Prime Minister of Senegal from November 2002 to April 2004. He was a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party and was considered a protégé of President Abdoulaye Wade, but he subsequently went into opposition and was a candidate in the...
.
Diop became President of the National Assembly in June 2002 in addition to his position as Mayor of Dakar. Within the PDS, Diop was a member of the party's Steering Committee and National Secretariat as of 2002. He served as President of the National Assembly until June 2007, when he was replaced by former Prime Minister Macky Sall
Macky Sall
Macky Sall is a Senegalese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Senegal from April 2004 to June 2007 and was President of the National Assembly of Senegal from June 2007 to November 2008. He was the Mayor of Fatick from 2002 to 2008 and has held that post again since April 2009.Sall was a...
; Diop was expected to become President of the Senate, which was being re-established.
Diop did not run in the 2007 Senate election
Senegalese Senate election, 2007
Indirect Senate elections were held in Senegal on 19 August 2007. Over 13,000 MPs, local and municipal councillors were eligible to vote in this election, in which 35 of the Senate's 100 members were chosen across the country's 35 districts; President Abdoulaye Wade nominated the other 65...
and was instead one of the 65 Senators appointed by Wade. He was elected as President of the Senate on October 3, 2007; as the only candidate for the position, he received the votes of 99 of the 100 Senators. As Senate President, Diop would constitutionally succeed Wade if the latter is unable to finish his term.
Diop was again a candidate in the March 2009 local election in Dakar, but the opposition Bennoo Siggil Senegal won an overwhelming victory. On April 18, 2009, Khalifa Sall of the Socialist Party was elected to succeed Diop as Mayor of Dakar; Diop himself was not present for the vote. Sall took office as Mayor on April 20. Diop was present for the ceremony and expressed pride in his work as Mayor, as well as confidence in Sall's abilities, despite their political differences. For his part, Sall spoke positively of Diop, but his supporters booed Diop on the occasion.