Amadou Ba confirms opposition role after meeting President Faye

Senegal’s former Prime Minister and former Minister of Finance, Amadou Ba, has confirmed that he remains firmly anchored in the opposition after holding talks with the President of the Republic on Wednesday, May 21, 2026.

In a communiqué issued in Dakar, Ba, who is also the president of La Nouvelle Responsabilité / Jàmm-Ji, said he was received following an invitation from the Head of State. He described the meeting as one conducted in a spirit of republican courtesy, frankness, and responsibility.

According to the former Prime Minister, the discussions focused on three major national concerns: institutional reforms, the country’s economic and financial situation, and national and regional security challenges.

Ba said the President reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue among different political actors, as well as the preservation of institutional stability and national cohesion.

On institutional reforms, Ba said he emphasized the importance of maintaining an inclusive approach, especially on electoral matters. He noted that democratic rules must be built on broad consensus so that they can inspire confidence among all political actors.

“The rules that organize democratic competition must always inspire confidence among all political stakeholders,” Ba stated, adding that such confidence is essential to the credibility of institutions and the stability of Senegal’s democracy.

The former Prime Minister also addressed Senegal’s economic situation, describing the current context as particularly demanding. He said the discussions recognized the difficulties being felt by citizens, as well as uncertainties in the international environment.

Ba stressed that the country’s current challenges require responses grounded in clarity and responsibility, noting that the financial strength of the state remains inseparable from national sovereignty, credibility, and strategic autonomy.

Security was also a major part of the exchange. Ba said he drew attention to the need to further support populations living in border areas, while continuing to strengthen the capacity of Senegal’s defense and security forces.

He described those efforts as essential to the stability and resilience of the nation, especially at a time when the wider regional security environment remains troubling.

However, Ba used the communiqué to remove any political ambiguity about his position. He said that before leaving the meeting, he calmly and clearly reaffirmed his place in the opposition, as well as that of La Nouvelle Responsabilité / Jàmm-Ji, the political movement he leads.

He also called on party officials, activists, and supporters to continue mobilizing and strengthening the party’s structures on the ground, particularly through membership registration and the sale of party membership cards.

In a message directed at Senegal’s opposition forces, Ba urged greater unity and preparation for future political contests. He said the present challenges require the coming together of forces committed to democratic alternation and the defense of the higher interests of the nation.

The tone of Ba’s communiqué reflects a careful balancing act: openness to republican dialogue on national issues, while maintaining a clear opposition identity. In Senegal’s evolving political environment, that posture may help reduce unnecessary tension while keeping democratic competition active and structured.

His statement also sends a broader message about responsible opposition politics: that political disagreement does not have to prevent dialogue on institutional stability, economic recovery, security, and national cohesion.

Ba concluded by urging Senegal to preserve what he described as the country’s enduring strengths: stability, democratic maturity, and the ability to place the national interest above the passions of the moment.

“In difficult periods,” he said, “nations remain solid only when they know how to combine clarity, responsibility, and composure.”