Senegal: Sonko jokes he would beat Sadio Mané in Bambali in 2029

Sonko turns Bambali ceremony into a 2029 political jest aimed at Mané

At Bambali, Ousmane Sonko used the laying of the foundation stone for the SM10 Agro agro-industrial project on Saturday to tease Sadio Mané about a possible political run in 2029. The president of the National Assembly joked that the Senegalese international would find him on his path if he ever entered politics.

Speaking before the crowd, Sonko noted that Mané does not engage in politics, then raised the prospect of a future candidacy by citing former Liberian footballer and president George Weah. He then told the player: “Football is yours, but politics is mine,” drawing laughter from those present. Sonko even joked about defeating him electorally even in his stronghold of Bambali.

However, the exchange was not an announcement of any candidacy by Sadio Mané. Senegalese media present described it as a good-natured banter woven into a speech in which Sonko mainly praised the player’s career and his investment in his home region.

SM10 Agro: a 11.7 billion FCFA project to transform Casamance fruit

The ceremony marked the launch of SM10 Agro, a project valued at 11.7 billion FCFA. Spanning about 500 hectares, the complex is set to process mango and targets an annual capacity of around 8,500 tonnes. Promoters announce more than 1,000 direct jobs at start-up, with a goal of up to 2,500 jobs.

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

Institutional backing for local value chains

According to project officials and Senegalese authorities, SM10 Agro is designed to combine production, processing and marketing. The initiative benefits from institutional support, notably from APIX, under the policy of developing local agricultural value chains.

By Claire Mvondo — Security and State Policy Expert