Assessment after 14 ministerial meetings is worrying

In Senegal, after 14 sessions of the Council of Ministers, the gender gap in appointments reached an alarming 75 to 7. This raised questions about the exclusion of women from the country’s leadership.

The government’s first list of 25 ministers included only four women, sparking a wave of protests. Despite these protests, hopes of seeing more female appointments diminish when we note that out of 82 appointments, only seven were women, sending a clear message of insensitivity to female representation.

Each presidential speech projected an image of a smart, respected, unifying leader who is open to change for a better and inclusive Senegal. Yet, despite this open-minded vision, the issue of female representation remains neglected.

Senegalese women have historically influenced important struggles and hold important positions in schools, universities and corporate structures. They are also present at the African Union, ECOWAS, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the World Bank. This female leadership cannot be ignored and the government has a responsibility to strengthen and maintain this dynamism.

Senegal has been recognized for its democratic progress, but it must not backslide on women’s participation in decision-making bodies. From Dakar to Paris, young girls need role models in high public office to inspire their ambitions.

The low number of women appointed today sends a negative signal. It is essential to correct this trend so that Senegal can achieve development through the inclusion of women’s skills. The presidential entourage must also advocate for this cause, recalling the historical role of women in Senegalese politics.

The importance of this representation has been recalled by figures such as Abdoulaye Bathily and Yacine Fall. Therefore, prominent journalists and consultants must continue to promote the participation of women in decision-making structures to keep Senegal on its progressive trajectory. Better must be done, not to roll back on these important achievements.