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Niasse - Fighter-Turned-Diplomat Seeks The Presidency

Niasse - Fighter-Turned-Diplomat Seeks The Presidency
February 14, 2000

DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - Senegalese presidential contender Moustapha Niasse, who bills himself as the candidate of hope, is in reality a genuine product of the ruling Socialist Party which he is now trying to remove from power.

The on-going election campaign has given a chance to the former foreign minister to denounce what he called the "specialists in demagogue" who, if elected, would deprive the Senegalese of "seven years of opportunity" due to "all sorts of promises."

Niasse left the ruling party in June after 40 years as a member of its predecessors - from the Senegalese Democratic Bloc to the Senegalese Progressive Union.

Declaring his break from the party, he told the press that he was against the "Mafia practices" which have been standing in the way of the interests of the Senegalese people.

The break-off became official with the formation 23 August, 1999 of the Alliance for the Forces of Progress, a party which he now heads.

Eleven years as head of the Senegalese diplomacy gave him the opportunity to establish ties with personalities in different countries such as Nigeria, Morocco, Gabon and the gulf states.

Born in a small village called Keur Madiabel, in the southern part of central Senegal 4 November, 1939, he got his baccalaureate at Lycee Faidherbe in the country's northern part.

The high school diploma took him to the Institute for Economic and Social Development Studies in Paris.

He then went through Senegal's National Administration School, after a stint at the University of Dakar where he left memories of a book-worm studying law and the Holy Koran tirelessly.

His family name, Niasse, in fact brings him closer to one of the major religious families in Senegal known as the Niassene.

He is a protege of former President Leopold Sedar Senghor, who as early as 1970 made him his cabinet director for nine years. At the same time he co-ordinated the National Security Service.

Niasse still keeps in touch with the former leader now living in his French retreat in Normandy.

He entered government as urban development, housing and environment minister from March to September 1979, before being transferred to the foreign ministry.

He remained in charge of diplomacy after 31 December, 1980 when Diouf, until then prime minister, succeeded Senghor, who voluntarily relinquished power.

As the transitional prime minister during a constitutional review aimed at reducing the powers of the post, he remained as foreign minister and in the Socialist Party's politburo till 1984.

In an ugly incident 19 September, 1984, Niasse, after being criticised in a meeting by Djibo Ka, the then Information Minister and official spokesman, punched him in the face in front of the party chairman, President Abdou Diouf, and all members of the politburo.

This incident, in addition to forcing him to leave government and politics, revived his reputation as a fighter from his university days when he used to exchange knuckles with those who did not speak the language of "the left."

"He does not accept to be criticised," one of his classmates at the high school, now a political companion, said.

The years he spent at the foreign ministry left him with a more pronounced "diplomatic touch," however.

The eight years of political silence (1984 to 1993) were devoted to private activities. Niasse put all his energy in the management of his consultancy firm known as Cabinet-Counsel International S.A.

The firm is active in the areas of oil, insurance, finance, international trade, maritime activities and air transport, enabling Niasse to amass a fortune.

"God gave me what to live on," the Niassene disciple, who turned down his official ministerial vehicle and salary upon his return to government as a senior minister in the foreign ministry, said.

During the presidential election campaign, his speeches are filled with references to God, and he enjoys the support of several opposition political parties.

Niasse hopes to get the votes of a good part of the electorate of his former party and to benefit from the esteem of that of the traditional opposition.

He is also counting on the support of marabout families, starting from his own family.

Married with six children, Niasse every morning telephones his 80-year-old mother wherever he may be in the world due to some "great admiration I have for her."

"If my mother had told me not to do what I am now doing, I would have stopped," he said of his presidential candidacy.

Niasse lost his father when he was very young.

His friends say he never misses an opportunity to call on them socially. Perhaps Niasse has come to realise that contact and dialogue among friends is longer lasting - and much better - than fist fights.