According to press reports, the Executive Committee of the ruling party of Senegal, Parti Democratique Senegalais (PDS), last Friday met at the State House in Dakar to remove Mr. Maki Sall from the party. Mr. Sall is the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Senegal, a position he assumed since June. A row is said to have erupted between President Wade and Macky Sall following the latter’s invitation of President Wade’s son, Karim Wade, Chairman of the organising committee of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit, at the National Assembly in October to shed light on how the project funds for the renovation of the city of Dakar, building of new hotels, etc. were used.

Speaker Sall is reported to have insisted on real transparency and accountability into the monies said to involve billions of CFA Francs. According to informed sources, President Wade was not happy with the move- hence the deterioration of his relations with Mr. Sall ever since.

Meanwhile the executive committee meeting is also said to have decided that the post of number two in the ruling party, which was occupied by Macky Sall, be abolished and the term of the Speaker to be reduced from five years to one year.

Political analysts have said that the invitation of Karim Wade to present an audit report of the projects to the National Assembly tantamounted to destabilising Wade’s administration.

The sources added that several MPs of the ruling party have petitioned Mr. Sall to resign but he refused. The sources further said that there are 20 MPs of the ruling party who have threatened to leave the party and join Macky Sall in any future political plan.