Senegal's president forms new Cabinet

DAKAR, Senegal

Senegal's president late Sunday appointed a new Cabinet made up of 33 ministers and four secretaries of state, just a few days after dissolving the government, according to a press release.

President Macky Sall made a big cleanup and "a significant rejuvenation of the team," Seydou Gueye, a representative of the presidency, said.

In the new setup, 23 members kept their ministerial portfolio, three others were transferred to other departments while seven new members were appointed.

"President Macky Sall has entrusted the government with a special mission of general interest," Gueye said, adding that the aim is also to "revive the national economy."

Gueye said the new government is marked by political openness and the consensus resulting from the broad and inclusive national dialogue.

Idrissa Seck, a former prime minister and the leader of the Rewmi party, who came second in the 2019 presidential election, was appointed president of the Social Economic and Environmental Council (CESE), the country's third most important institution after the national assembly.

Sall dissolved the government last Wednesday without any explanation.

*Writing by Felix Tih