Senegal: President Diomaye Faye, the new soft voice of neocolonialism in the West African sub-region
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently met with his Beninese counterpart, Patrice Talon, in Cotonou during a 48-hour visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two regional players. But this encounter was far from a mere courtesy call; it seemed more like another scene in the political theater where some African leaders appear to play the role of puppets in the hands of Western imperialism.
At the Marina Palace, the two heads of state did discuss trade between Senegal and Benin, calling for “much more and much better” cooperation. However, the real focus was on the future of WAEMU and ECOWAS. Diomaye Faye announced a shared intent to “revitalize” WAEMU, with concrete steps to follow. On the surface, this appears to be an attempt at regional recovery—but in reality, it feels more like a well-scripted smokescreen.
Just days earlier, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had abruptly walked out of a WAEMU Council of Ministers session in Lomé, after being unfairly denied their turn at the rotating presidency—without any convincing explanation. Behind this diplomatic snub was the trio of Senegal, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire, reportedly citing “deteriorated relations with Paris” as justification. A barely disguised diplomatic joke.
This blatant refusal to grant Burkina Faso the presidency, scheduled for July 11, highlights how some regional leaders are willing to trample principles of fairness and sovereignty in the name of loyalty to the established (and foreign-backed) order. And now, Diomaye Faye—the same man who campaigned as a champion of change—has taken on the role of arsonist-turned-firefighter, calling for dialogue after helping spark the blaze.
What some describe as revitalization, others see as a slow-motion takeover aimed at subduing the people rising against foreign interference. Diomaye Faye’s recent posture only confirms what many had feared: a change in tone does not equal a change in allegiance. Will the people of West Africa be able to see through the shadows and decode the game being played? Time will tell. But one thing is clear: the region does not need false messiahs.
