Djibo Leyti Kâ
Encyclopedia
Djibo Leyti Kâ is a Senegal
ese politician and the Secretary-General of the Union for Democratic Renewal
(URD). He was a prominent minister under President Abdou Diouf
from 1981 to 1995 and founded the URD in 1998 after splitting from Diouf's Socialist Party (PS). Since 2004, he has again served in the government under President Abdoulaye Wade
; currently he is Minister of State in charge of the Environment, the Protection of Nature, Retention Basins and Artificial Lakes.
Kâ was born in Thiarny, located in Louga Region
. He was Deputy Governor of Saint-Louis Region
from 1975 to 1976, then Technical Adviser and Deputy Director of the Cabinet of President Leopold Sedar Senghor
from 1976 to 1977. From 1978 to 1980, he was Director of the Cabinet of the President. When Abdou Diouf succeeded Senghor as President, Kâ became a member of the government; he was Minister of Communications from January 1981 to April 1988 (and was additionally responsible for relations with the assemblies from 1983 to 1988), Minister of Planning and Cooperation from 1988 to 1990, and Minister of National Education from 1990 to 1991. On April 8, 1991, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs, serving in that position until June 1, 1993; he was then moved to the position of Minister of State for the Interior, serving in that position until March 1995, when he was dismissed from the government.
Kâ subsequently formed the Renewal Movement within the governing Socialist Party
(PS) to seek internal party reforms, and this move seriously divided the PS in late 1997. The PS steering committee rejected the formation of the Movement, and President Diouf expressed agreement with the steering committee's decision. Subsequently, on November 19, 1997, Kâ and ten other leading members of the Movement were suspended from the PS for three months by the party's Political Bureau. Kâ and his supporters were publicly denounced by the party in March 1998 and resigned from the party in early April 1998. The government also restricted him from travelling outside of Senegal, but the actions taken against him had the effect of raising his national profile greatly, and he was thus able to find more candidates to run alongside him in the May 1998 parliamentary election. His newly formed Union for Democratic Renewal (URD) received about 13% of the vote and won eleven seats in the National Assembly
in that election. Kâ was one of the successful URD candidates, and he was President of the Democracy and Freedoms Parliamentary Group in the National Assembly from July 1998 to January 2001; he also became Secretary-General of URD in July 1998.
Kâ ran as the URD candidate in the February 2000 presidential election
, placing fourth with about 7.1% of the vote. He initially supported the opposition candidate, Abdoulaye Wade
, for the second round, but then switched his support to Diouf a few days before the second round was held, following a televised appeal from Diouf for Kâ's support. There was speculation that Diouf would appoint Kâ as Prime Minister if he was re-elected, but Wade defeated Diouf in the run-off, which was held on March 19.
In the April 2001 parliamentary election
, Kâ was re-elected to the National Assembly through national list proportional representation as an URD candidate. Following that election, he became President of the Justice, Democracy, Culture, and Communication Commission in the National Assembly. President Wade later appointed Kâ to the government as Minister of State in charge of Maritime Economy and International Maritime Transport on April 21, 2004. He and the URD supported Wade's bid for re-election in the February 2007 presidential election
, and Kâ claimed that his party made a decisive contribution to Wade's victory in the first round.
In the June 2007 parliamentary election
, Kâ was elected to the National Assembly on a departmental list of the Sopi Coalition
. On July 5, 2007, Kâ's ministerial portfolio was changed from Maritime Economy and International Maritime Transport to the Environment, the Protection of Nature, Retention Basins and Artificial Lakes; he retained the rank of Minister of State. Kâ, speaking in the National Assembly on August 8, 2007, urged the creation of an African coalition to work against the effects of rising sea levels caused by global warming.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese politician and the Secretary-General of the Union for Democratic Renewal
Union for Democratic Renewal (Senegal)
The Union for Democratic Renewal is a political party in Senegal. It was founded by Djibo Leyti Kâ, a former minister under President Abdou Diouf who broke with the then-ruling Socialist Party, in 1998....
(URD). He was a prominent minister under President Abdou Diouf
Abdou Diouf
Abdou Diouf was the second President of Senegal, serving from 1981 to 2000. Diouf is notable both for coming to power by peaceful succession, and leaving willingly after losing the 2000 presidential election to Abdoulaye Wade...
from 1981 to 1995 and founded the URD in 1998 after splitting from Diouf's Socialist Party (PS). Since 2004, he has again served in the government under President Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974...
; currently he is Minister of State in charge of the Environment, the Protection of Nature, Retention Basins and Artificial Lakes.
Kâ was born in Thiarny, located in Louga Region
Louga Region
Louga is a city and region of Senegal. The region is located to the northwest part of the country and Louga city is in the northwest of the region - about 50 km inland from the Atlantic coast.-Departments:Louga region is divided into 3 departments:...
. He was Deputy Governor of Saint-Louis Region
Saint-Louis Region
The Saint-Louis Region of Senegal is on the border with Mauritania. Its capital is Saint-Louis.Famous for its cast iron bridge, built by French colonialists in the 19th century, it is close to the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, home to thousands of birds, some indigenous to the...
from 1975 to 1976, then Technical Adviser and Deputy Director of the Cabinet of President Leopold Sedar Senghor
Léopold Sédar Senghor
Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who for two decades served as the first president of Senegal . Senghor was the first African elected as a member of the Académie française. Before independence, he founded the political party called the Senegalese...
from 1976 to 1977. From 1978 to 1980, he was Director of the Cabinet of the President. When Abdou Diouf succeeded Senghor as President, Kâ became a member of the government; he was Minister of Communications from January 1981 to April 1988 (and was additionally responsible for relations with the assemblies from 1983 to 1988), Minister of Planning and Cooperation from 1988 to 1990, and Minister of National Education from 1990 to 1991. On April 8, 1991, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs, serving in that position until June 1, 1993; he was then moved to the position of Minister of State for the Interior, serving in that position until March 1995, when he was dismissed from the government.
Kâ subsequently formed the Renewal Movement within the governing Socialist Party
Socialist Party of Senegal
The Socialist Party of Senegal is a political party in Senegal. It was the ruling party in Senegal from independence in 1960 until 2000. Ousmane Tanor Dieng has been the First Secretary of the party since 1996...
(PS) to seek internal party reforms, and this move seriously divided the PS in late 1997. The PS steering committee rejected the formation of the Movement, and President Diouf expressed agreement with the steering committee's decision. Subsequently, on November 19, 1997, Kâ and ten other leading members of the Movement were suspended from the PS for three months by the party's Political Bureau. Kâ and his supporters were publicly denounced by the party in March 1998 and resigned from the party in early April 1998. The government also restricted him from travelling outside of Senegal, but the actions taken against him had the effect of raising his national profile greatly, and he was thus able to find more candidates to run alongside him in the May 1998 parliamentary election. His newly formed Union for Democratic Renewal (URD) received about 13% of the vote and won eleven seats in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Senegal
The National Assembly of Senegal is the lower house of Senegal's parliament.-The current National Assembly:The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 29 April 2001, has a total of 150 elected members who serve five-year terms. The electoral system is a mixed member...
in that election. Kâ was one of the successful URD candidates, and he was President of the Democracy and Freedoms Parliamentary Group in the National Assembly from July 1998 to January 2001; he also became Secretary-General of URD in July 1998.
Kâ ran as the URD candidate in the February 2000 presidential election
Senegalese presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Senegal on 27 February 2000, with a second round taking place on 19 March after no candidate won over 50% of votes in the first round...
, placing fourth with about 7.1% of the vote. He initially supported the opposition candidate, Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade
Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974...
, for the second round, but then switched his support to Diouf a few days before the second round was held, following a televised appeal from Diouf for Kâ's support. There was speculation that Diouf would appoint Kâ as Prime Minister if he was re-elected, but Wade defeated Diouf in the run-off, which was held on March 19.
In the April 2001 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 2001
An election for the National Assembly of Senegal was held on 29 April 2001. The election was held under the new constitution approved by referendum earlier in the year...
, Kâ was re-elected to the National Assembly through national list proportional representation as an URD candidate. Following that election, he became President of the Justice, Democracy, Culture, and Communication Commission in the National Assembly. President Wade later appointed Kâ to the government as Minister of State in charge of Maritime Economy and International Maritime Transport on April 21, 2004. He and the URD supported Wade's bid for re-election in the February 2007 presidential election
Senegalese presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held in Senegal on 25 February 2007. The incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, who was first elected in 2000, won the election in the first round with almost 56% of the vote.-Date of the election:...
, and Kâ claimed that his party made a decisive contribution to Wade's victory in the first round.
In the June 2007 parliamentary election
Senegalese parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections were held in Senegal on 3 June 2007. They had originally been planned to be held together with the presidential election on 25 February 2007, but were postponed. 14 parties or coalitions participated in the election, in which the composition of the National Assembly, with...
, Kâ was elected to the National Assembly on a departmental list of the Sopi Coalition
Sopi Coalition
The Sopi Coalition is the governing political alliance in Senegal. The alliance is composed of the Senegalese Democratic Party and smaller parties, and it supports President Abdoulaye Wade, who is also the Secretary-General of the PDS.In the April 2001 parliamentary election, the Sopi Coalition...
. On July 5, 2007, Kâ's ministerial portfolio was changed from Maritime Economy and International Maritime Transport to the Environment, the Protection of Nature, Retention Basins and Artificial Lakes; he retained the rank of Minister of State. Kâ, speaking in the National Assembly on August 8, 2007, urged the creation of an African coalition to work against the effects of rising sea levels caused by global warming.