Senegal's New Sports Minister Warned of Entrenched Lobby Influence

During the handover ceremony at Senegal's Ministry of Sports and Youth, outgoing minister Khady Diène Gaye cautioned her successor, Djireye Clotilde Coly, about powerful interests that exploit sport for personal gain. She warned that officials who feel their interests threatened may launch campaigns of vilification and manipulate parts of the sports press, though she stressed that not all media are involved.

Gaye emphasized the importance of respecting the renewal calendar of all sports federations and highlighted the pending renewal of the national Olympic committee's mandate as a foundation for success. She urged Coly to prioritize the public good, especially the country's youth, and to ensure that the benefits of sport reach the broader Senegalese population.