Abdou Diouf, born on September 7, 1935, in Louga, Senegal, is a prominent Senegalese politician who served as the second President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000. He was also the Secretary-General of La Francophonie from 2003 to 2014. Diouf is a member of the Serer ethnic group and was raised in a Muslim family. He was educated at the prestigious École nationale de la France d'Outre-Mer, which trained future leaders of French colonies.

Diouf began his career in Senegal’s civil service after the country gained independence from France in 1960. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Senegal’s Director of International Technical Cooperation, Chief of Staff to the President, and Secretary-General of the Presidency. In 1970, President Léopold Sédar Senghor appointed him Prime Minister, a position he held for over a decade.

When Senghor voluntarily stepped down from the presidency in 1981, Diouf became President of Senegal. His administration focused on economic reform and development, working to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and education. He was known for his pragmatic leadership style, promoting political stability, and democratization. Diouf oversaw a series of political reforms that included the liberalization of the media and the legal system, as well as the introduction of a multi-party political system.

During his presidency, Diouf maintained strong relationships with France and other Western nations while also strengthening Senegal's ties with other African countries. He pursued policies aimed at promoting African unity and played a key role in fostering diplomatic relations across the continent. He worked to mediate conflicts, particularly in countries like Chad and Liberia.

Diouf won re-election in 1983 and 1988 but faced growing opposition, especially from Abdoulaye Wade, the leader of the Senegalese Democratic Party. Although his administration was credited with political openness, there were also allegations of electoral irregularities. In the 2000 presidential election, Diouf was defeated by Wade, marking a peaceful transition of power and demonstrating Senegal’s strong democratic foundation.

After his presidency, Diouf became the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a position he held from 2003 to 2014. In this role, he worked to promote French language and culture, as well as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development across the Francophone world.

Abdou Diouf is widely respected for his dedication to democracy, his moderate and diplomatic approach to governance, and his commitment to both national and international development. Even after his political career, he remains an influential figure in Senegalese and African politics.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdou_Diouf