Prime
Senegal gets second female prime minister
Ms Aminata Touré. Photo by Agencies
Dakar- Senegal’s President Macky Sall on Sunday named the country’s justice minister, Aminata Touré, the new premier hours after her predecessor was sacked.
Mrs Toure, 51, takes over from Mr Abdoul Mbaye, who had led the government of President Sall since April 2, 2012. Ms Touré, who is expected to form a cabinet before the end of the week, has pledged to work harder to safeguard the country’s image at home and abroad.
Aminata Toure is Senegal’s second female Prime Minister, after Mame Madior Boye, who was ex-President Abdoulaye Wade’s first premier but lost the post after the historic ferry wreck that killed nearly 2000 people in 2002.
Explaining President Sall’s decision, a presidential spokesman Abou Abel Thiam said the move was in keeping with the president’s decision “to ensure greater efficiency in the government”.
But critics say the sacking of Abdoul Mbaye could be linked to his connection with the finances of the former Chadian dictator, Mr Abdoul Mbaye’s banking institution.
