Senegal: President Wade Tactical in Staging Dynasty

By Eric Sande

DAKAR---President Abdoulaye Wade, 85, formerly a darling of the West, is set to controversially run for a second and controversial term come 2012 .Dynasty rages in his country  for he is purported to turn over the mantle of state to his son Karim Wade before the expiry of his mandate. Such succession was successfully done by the ageing and late President Léopold Sedar Senghor to former President Abdou Diouf.

Wade has rejected suggestions of a “drift towards monarchy” after he appointed his son Karim energy minister earlier this month. The move has sparked a new wave of controversy but laced with mild applause across the country. Karim is already in charge of several government portfolios.

Correspondents say the move has added to speculation Wade is grooming his son as his successor.

Analysts say President Wade's latest move is to end all of that and is prepared to put all his weight behind his son to overcome that major deficit and thereby gain a needed plus on his election profile come 2012.  That is where the controversy resurfaces again since many Senegalese even some within the ruling party are wary of the President's son’s plans of replacing his father at the helm of the country's leadership.

“He is a financier, a banker, he has succeeded very well at the tasks I have entrusted him with because of his skills”, said Wade during the 13th summit of Francophone nations in Switzerland. He insisted his son had been appointed on merit and was proving himself at the head of the toughest ministry.

Wade once argued that he was fielding his son for the presidency citing that even rogue politicians who stole money are on the list for the presidency.

Speaking to reporters during his latest victory in 2007, he said, “ My son is rich and is not a thief...and has all it requires including being a bona fide citizen of this country to become a legitimate leader of this country.”

Karim’s lack of political experience led to his defeat in the mayoral election for the city of Dakar in 2009. It in itself is sinking his chances for the top job.