DAKAR, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Senegalese President Macky Sall named a former economy minister as prime minister on Saturday, two months after tough legislative elections for the ruling coalition.
Amadou Ba, a 61-year-old tax expert who also previously served as foreign minister, has been named prime minister, the presidency announced in a statement.
This designation restores the post of Prime Minister to the West African country, which was abolished in April 2019.
“The main priorities that the president has set include improving household purchasing power, controlling inflation, security, housing, vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship,” Amadou said. Ba on national television after a meeting on Saturday with Macky Sall.
The rest of the government was to be announced later.
Earlier this week, Senegalese security forces had to intervene to maintain order during the first meeting of the new assembly since the July 31 elections.
Macky Sall came to power in 2012 after ousting former President Abdoulaye Wade. He was re-elected in 2019 on promises of large-scale infrastructure rollouts as the country is set to start producing oil and natural gas next year.
But his second term was overshadowed by economic difficulties, particularly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Violent protests erupted in Senegal last year when Ousmane Sonko, main opponent of Macky Sall who came third in the 2019 presidential election, was arrested for rape, which he denied.
Ousmane Sonko was released, but many opponents in the presidential camp said he saw his arrest as an attempt by Macky Sall to eliminate a rival to make his way to a third term, starting in 2024.
(Report Diadie Ba and Ngouda Dione, with Cooper Inveen; French version Elizabeth Pineau)