Pape Diop

Pape Diop (born 1954 [http://web.archive.org/web/20030828102035/www.assemblee-nationale.sn/presidence/president.html Profile on assemblee-nationale.sn] {2003 archive page) fr icon.] ) is a Senegalese politician and a leading member of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). He has been Mayor of Dakar, the capital city, since 2002. He was also President of the National Assembly of Senegal from 2002 to 2007, and has been President of the Senate since 2007.

Diop was born in Dakar. He joined the PDS in 1974 and was Treasurer-General of the PDS from 1992 to 1997. He was elected to the National Assembly as a PDS candidate from Dakar Department in the May 1993 parliamentary election and was re-elected in the May 1998 parliamentary election and the April 2001 parliamentary election.

He was elected Mayor of Dakar on May 12 2002, receiving 52% of the vote and defeating long-time mayor Mamadou Diop. Pape Diop, a wealthy businessman who was the CEO of a seafood export company, Soumex SA,Mamadou Sidou Barry, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN27053lejokelatip0 "Le joker de Wade prend la capitale."] , Jeuneafrique.com, May 27, 2002 fr icon.] was still a relatively unknown figure at this time, [Tidiane Dioh, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN27053papedrakadr0 "Pape Diop. L'homme qui veut changer Dakar."] , Jeuneafrique.com, May 27, 2002 fr icon.] but was backed by President Abdoulaye Wade and Idrissa Seck, who was then a Minister of State.

Diop became President of the National Assembly in June 2002 [http://www.gouv.sn/institutions/assemblee_anciens.html "Les anciens présidents de l'Assemblée nationale"] , Senegalese government website fr icon.] in addition to his position as Mayor of Dakar. [ [http://www.dakarville.sn/actu_infos_papediop_mairepresiass.htm "Assemblée Nationale, Mairie de Dakar : Monsieur Pape DIOP garde ses deux mandats"] , dakarville.sn fr icon.] He served as National Assembly President until June 2007, when he was replaced by former Prime Minister Macky Sall; Diop was expected to become President of the Senate, which was being re-established. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/senegal/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN00957llectniahco0 "L'élection du Sénat se tiendra le 5 août prochain"] , Jeuneafrique.com, June 21, 2007 fr icon.]

Diop did not run in the 2007 Senate election and was instead one of the 65 Senators appointed by Wade. [ [http://www.las.sn/article.php?artid=747 "SENAT : Ce sera bel et bien Pape Diop"] , las.sn, August 7, 2007 fr icon.] He was elected as President of the Senate on October 3 2007, receiving the votes of 99 of the 100 Senators. As Senate President, Diop would constitutionally succeed Wade if the latter is unable to finish his term. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?art_cle=39492 "Sénégal: Pape Diop, un proche de Wade, élu président du Sénat"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), October 3, 2007 fr icon.]

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