Senegal: Sonko jests with Sadio Mané about 2029 and positions himself as a political rival

In Bambali, Ousmane Sonko took the opportunity on Saturday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the SM10 Agro agro-industrial project to tease Sadio Mané about a potential entry into politics in 2029. The National Assembly president jokingly assured that the Senegalese international would find him in his way by then.

Addressing the audience, Ousmane Sonko reminded everyone that Sadio Mané does not engage in politics, before discussing the possibility of a future candidacy by citing the example of former footballer and Liberian president George Weah. He then quipped to the player: “Football is your domain, but politics is mine,” eliciting laughter from those present. Sonko even joked about his ability to defeat him electorally, even in his stronghold of Bambali.

However, this exchange does not constitute any announcement of Sadio Mané’s candidacy. Senegalese media present reported it as a light-hearted interaction, embedded in a speech where Sonko primarily praised the player’s achievements and his investment in his home region.

The ceremony marked the launch of SM10 Agro, a project valued at 11.7 billion FCFA. Spanning approximately 500 hectares, the complex aims to process mangoes and targets an annual capacity of around 8,500 tons. The promoters announced more than 1,000 direct jobs at the outset, with a goal of reaching up to 2,500 jobs.

Ousmane Sonko presented Sadio Mané as one of Senegal’s best ambassadors and recalled having suggested to him, as early as 2023, to invest in agriculture and local processing. The project aims to better valorize the fruit production of Casamance and reduce post-harvest losses.

According to project officials and Senegalese authorities, SM10 Agro is set to combine production, processing, and marketing. The initiative is supported by institutional backing, notably from APIX, as part of the policy to develop local agricultural value chains.