Party of Independence and Labour
Encyclopedia
The Party of Independence and Labour is a communist political party
in Senegal
. Its current general secretary is Amath Dansokho
.
PIT emerged out of the Senegalese branch of the African Independence Party
(PAI). At the time of the 1960 local elections, PAI was accused by the government of fomenting unrest following a series of incidents in Saint-Louis
. PAI was banned and went underground. The general secretary, Majhmoud Diop, and Tidiane Baïdy Ly went into exile in Guinea
.
In 1963 at the 23rd plenary session of the Central Committee of PAI a group of party cadres, including Babacar Niang
and Tidiane Baïdy Ly, were expelled form the party, accused of "anti-party fractional activity, right-wing opportunist tendencies" (Momsarew, April 1964).
In the December 1 1963 elections PAI joined the Senegalese Democracy and Unity bloc.
Whereas many young cadres of the clandestine PAI went to study at the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow
, one section were sent to Cuba
to receive training in guerilla warfare. A group of 25 PAI guerillas entered eastern Senegal in 1965 trying to launch armed struggle against the government. The guerillas were, however, soon overrun captured and imprisoned.
In 1965 PAI split, when Landing Savané
left to form the pro-Chinese
Senegalese Communist Party
. This split led to the dismantling of the Dakar
cell of PAI.
In 1966 Seydou Cissokho took over as general secretary. In 1967 a rectification campaign was initiated, strengthening the position of Cissokho.
During the period 1965-1968 PAI had a low profile. It worked in the Syndicat des Enseignants du Sénégal and the Association of Senegalese Workers in France (ATSF).
At the 1972 congress Majhmoud Diop, the former general secretary, was expelled. The party was now completely in the hands of Cissokho.
1972-1975 was in many ways a period of reconstruction of PAI. Its main publication, Momsarev, started appearing somewhat regularly. PAI went on to organize a students' movement, Students Movement of the African Independence Party (MEPAI). This would later evolve into the General Union of Senegalese Students, Pupils and Probationary Teachers in Europe in 1975. This student movement would however rapidly split away from the party, and form the more radical Democratic League
.
In 1976 Majhmoud Diop and his followers regrouped. Effectively two separate parties worked with the name PAI, PAI-Sénégal (led by Cissokho, technically the original PAI) and PAI-Rénovation
(led by Diop).
Soon PAI-Rénovation was accorded recognition by the state to the name PAI. In 1977 PAI-Sénégal appealed to the president to substitute PAI-Rénovation for itself as the legal left.
PAI-Sénégal called for a boycott of the 1978 elections.
In 1979 PIT formed a new youth wing, Democratic Youth Union Alboury Ndiaye (Union de la Jeunesse Démocratique Alboury Ndiaye).
PAI-Sénégal later registered itself with the authorities as PIT on July 9 1981.
In March 1999, the PIT and two other left-wing parties, And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism (AJ/PADS) and the Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party (LD/MPT), agreed to support the candidacy of opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade
of the Senegalese Democratic Party
(PDS) in the 2000 presidential election
. After Wade's victory, the PIT joined the new government. Differences between Wade and PIT soon surged, and eight months after the installment of the new government PIT was expelled. PIT has since joined the opposition ranks, and forms part of the CDC opposition coalition.
In the parliamentary election
held on 29 April 2001, the party won 0.6 % of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats.
For the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections, PIT joined the Coalition Alternative 2007. The coalition backed Moustapha Niasse
in the February 2007 presidential election
, and Dansokho was chosen to head the coalition's list in the 2007 parliamentary election
. Subsequently, however, most of the opposition, including the PIT, decided to boycott the parliamentary election.
PIT publishes Daan Doole (The Worker) and Gestu.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Senegal
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...
. Its current general secretary is Amath Dansokho
Amath Dansokho
Amath Dansokho is a Senegalese politician and the Secretary-General of the Party of Independence and Work . 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...
.
PIT emerged out of the Senegalese branch 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...
(PAI). At the time of the 1960 local elections, PAI was accused by the government of fomenting unrest following a series of incidents in Saint-Louis
Saint-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...
. PAI was banned and went underground. The general secretary, Majhmoud Diop, and Tidiane Baïdy Ly went into exile in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
.
In 1963 at the 23rd plenary session of the Central Committee of PAI a group of party cadres, including Babacar Niang
Babacar Niang
Babacar Niang is a retired Senegalese-French middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres.-Achievements:-External links:...
and Tidiane Baïdy Ly, were expelled form the party, accused of "anti-party fractional activity, right-wing opportunist tendencies" (Momsarew, April 1964).
In the December 1 1963 elections PAI joined the Senegalese Democracy and Unity bloc.
Whereas many young cadres of the clandestine PAI went to study at the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, one section were sent to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to receive training in guerilla warfare. A group of 25 PAI guerillas entered eastern Senegal in 1965 trying to launch armed struggle against the government. The guerillas were, however, soon overrun captured and imprisoned.
In 1965 PAI split, when Landing Savané
Landing Savané
Landing Savané is a Senegalese politician and the Secretary-General of And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism.-Political career:...
left to form the pro-Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Senegalese Communist Party
Senegalese Communist Party
Senegalese Communist Party was a pro-Chinese communist party in Senegal. It was formed by the then student leader Landing Savané in 1965. The party was short-lived, but Savané continued his political activity through other groups.-Source:*Zuccarelli, François. La vie politique sénégalaise . Paris:...
. This split led to the dismantling of the 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...
cell of PAI.
In 1966 Seydou Cissokho took over as general secretary. In 1967 a rectification campaign was initiated, strengthening the position of Cissokho.
During the period 1965-1968 PAI had a low profile. It worked in the Syndicat des Enseignants du Sénégal and the Association of Senegalese Workers in France (ATSF).
At the 1972 congress Majhmoud Diop, the former general secretary, was expelled. The party was now completely in the hands of Cissokho.
1972-1975 was in many ways a period of reconstruction of PAI. Its main publication, Momsarev, started appearing somewhat regularly. PAI went on to organize a students' movement, Students Movement of the African Independence Party (MEPAI). This would later evolve into the General Union of Senegalese Students, Pupils and Probationary Teachers in Europe in 1975. This student movement would however rapidly split away from the party, and form the more radical Democratic League
Democratic League - Movement for the Labour Party
The Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party is a political party in Senegal....
.
In 1976 Majhmoud Diop and his followers regrouped. Effectively two separate parties worked with the name PAI, PAI-Sénégal (led by Cissokho, technically the original PAI) and PAI-Rénovation
African Independence Party-Renewal
African Independence Party is a political party in Senegal, which was led by Majhmoud Diop....
(led by Diop).
Soon PAI-Rénovation was accorded recognition by the state to the name PAI. In 1977 PAI-Sénégal appealed to the president to substitute PAI-Rénovation for itself as the legal left.
PAI-Sénégal called for a boycott of the 1978 elections.
In 1979 PIT formed a new youth wing, Democratic Youth Union Alboury Ndiaye (Union de la Jeunesse Démocratique Alboury Ndiaye).
PAI-Sénégal later registered itself with the authorities as PIT on July 9 1981.
In March 1999, the PIT and two other left-wing parties, And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism (AJ/PADS) and the Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party (LD/MPT), agreed to support the candidacy of opposition leader 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...
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) 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...
. After Wade's victory, the PIT joined the new government. Differences between Wade and PIT soon surged, and eight months after the installment of the new government PIT was expelled. PIT has since joined the opposition ranks, and forms part of the CDC opposition coalition.
In the 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...
held on 29 April 2001, the party won 0.6 % of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats.
For the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections, PIT joined the Coalition Alternative 2007. The coalition backed 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...
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 chosen to head the coalition's list in the 2007 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...
. Subsequently, however, most of the opposition, including the PIT, decided to boycott the parliamentary election.
PIT publishes Daan Doole (The Worker) and Gestu.