Waly Diouf Bodian, a prominent Pastef activist and vocal supporter of Ousmane Sonko, has been removed from his position as director of the Port autonome de Dakar by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The dismissal coincides with the resurfacing of a 2022 Facebook post by Bodian, in which he made a bold prediction about former President Macky Sall.
As a fierce defender of Ousmane Sonko and one of the most outspoken figures within Pastef, Waly Diouf Bodian has been relieved of his duties at the helm of the Port autonome de Dakar. This decision arrives at a pivotal moment, as a long-forgotten social media post from 2022 resurfaces to haunt him.
History has a way of holding political figures accountable for their past statements. In April 2022, Bodian took to Facebook to declare that “from April 2024 onward, the citizen Macky Sall will no longer set foot in the Palais de la République, unless he presents an official invitation from President Ousmane Sonko.”
Two years later, fate has woven a starkly different narrative. When Sall returned to Senegal, Sonko was not in the Palais. What made the situation even more ironic was that Bodian’s removal from the Port’s leadership occurred precisely when Sall was making his return, just as the man who had once positioned himself as Sonko’s most ardent defender was being ousted from his position.
This dismissal follows a wave of leadership changes across major public enterprises, including Aïda Mbodji (DER/FJ), Toussaint Manga (LONASE), Ngagne Demba Touré (SOMISEN), and Alioune Guèye (PETROSEN).
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, Waly Diouf Bodian’s tenure as director of the Port autonome de Dakar came to an abrupt end. The Council of Ministers’ communiqué left no room for doubt: Bodian’s position was handed over to Doune Pathé Mbengue, a civil administrator and current mayor of Cambérène.
Bodian had assumed the role on May 13, 2024, succeeding Mountaga Sy. Prior to this, he served as the deputy director of Legislation and International Cooperation at the Directorate General of Taxes and Domains (DGID).
A measured response
Waly Diouf Bodian was more than just a high-ranking official at one of the country’s key economic hubs. He was also one of Pastef’s most vocal advocates, both online and in public discourse. His unrelenting defense of Ousmane Sonko often drew sharp reactions from critics.
When Sonko was designated as the “Guardian of the Revolution,” Bodian went a step further, declaring himself the “Guardian of the Guardian of the Revolution,” positioning himself as a political sentinel and Sonko’s unwavering shield.
His continued leadership of the Port after Sonko’s removal from the Prime Minister’s office had already sparked confusion among some Pastef supporters. Many expected him to resign in protest, following the example of other party members who chose to step down from their positions in solidarity with Sonko.
When questioned about this apparent contradiction, Bodian dismissed concerns, stating, “There is individual management and collective management. Some have handled this matter on an individual basis. But we are politicians, part of a party, and we follow the party’s guidance. I did not appoint myself as director; I was appointed within the framework of the party.”
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye ultimately decided otherwise. By removing Bodian from his post, the head of state has brought an end to the political journey of one of Sonko’s most loyal and outspoken supporters at the Port autonome de Dakar. Bodian’s response to his dismissal was notably restrained, devoid of bitterness or public backlash. Instead, he shared a brief message on his Facebook page:
“Alhamdoulillah. I give thanks to God.”
