Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on Tuesday appointed Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré as Prime Minister to replace Macky Sall, who had resigned earlier in the day.

Soumaré was until now Minister of Budget in the previous cabinet dissolved following the 3 June Legislative polls.

Senegalese political analysts believe that Mr. Soumaré’s appointment is a signal that President Wade is now resolved to focus on solving the economic problems that cripple the average Senegalese citizen’s daily life. While many expected a lady at the post of Prime minister, President Wade short-circuited the whole Senegalese media’s prediction that named several men among whom Cheikh Tidiane Gadio who occupied the portfolio of Foreign Affairs in Macky Sall’s cabinet.

Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré did not waste time to begin consultations with setting up a new cabinet. There is no doubt that Hadjibou Soumaré will continue to keep key figures in the former cabinet such as Ousmane Ngom, Cheikh Tidiane Sy, Samuel Sarr, Abdoulaye Diop and Mame Birame Diouf among others.
After quitting the Presidential Palace, former Prime Minister Macky Sall said “he has handed over his post with the feeling that he has fully accomplished his mission for the past three years”. Hadjibou Soumaré also thanked Macky Sall his predecessor whom he hailed “his sense of duty and dedication to the nation.”

Holder of a degree from the National School of Public Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) in 1981, Soumaré has been in the cabinet since 23 May 2001.Hailing from the region of Thiès, 70 km from Dakar, the new Prime Minister has occupied various positions in the Senegalese administration. He was Director General of Finance from 1 August 2000 to 23 May 2001 and Director of the Budget from 16 July 1996 to 1st August 2000.

From October 1995 to July 1996, he was holding the position of Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning before occupying from September 1991 to September 1995 the position of Provisional Administrator of the Bank of Credit and International Commerce (BCCI).Macky Sall’s successor was also head of the Service of Currency and Credit from July 1990 to September 1991.He also occupied the position of Head of the Public Finance Statistics at the General Treasury Office from July 1985 to July 1990.