Ousmane Égouloubene Diédhiou, the first liberal mayor of Senegal, former mayor of Oussouye   He passed away on Wednesday, January 14th, and rests in his native land. The man left his mark on the political history of this department of Kassa and of Senegal, shaking up electoral trends at a time when the Socialist Party was in control, becoming the first opposition mayor, and having to face the formidable political storm of the Socialist Party.

The current mayor of the commune of Oussouye remembers him as a man who left his mark on the entire political class, in addition to the achievements made for the development of this commune, an example for the young generation of mayors of the department of Oussouye.

" It is first and foremost a sad loss to hear of the passing of Ousmane Égouloubène Diédhiou, whom I would call our father figure. He was the first liberal mayor of the Oussouye commune in the 1980s. This is a great loss for the commune and for the entire Kassa region. I bow before his memory and offer my condolences on behalf of the municipal council, to his entire family, to all of Kassa, and also to his political family. When we speak of Égouloubène, we speak of the PDS (Senegalese Democratic Party) at a time when the Socialist Party (PS) was powerful throughout Senegal. He was the first mayor to win elections against the PS. He was also a highly respected politician for all he did for the commune and the department. So, at the very moment we were celebrating Senegal's victory over Egypt in the two finals, we learned this news, which has left us somewhat devastated," reacted Ousmane Landry Diallo.

Ousmane Égouloubène Diédhiou was one of the elders of the department. "He liked to recall today his promotion or his generation, there were two of them, it was him and the former minister Sina Diatta who is here today," recalled the mayor of Oussouye.

A man of rare eloquence, a fierce opponent of the Socialist Party

Ousmane Égouloubène Diédhiou was described as a man of rare eloquence. A man who stood up to the powerful Socialist Party, which governed the country from the post-independence era until 2000. However, towards the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, Mr. Diédhiou shook up the political scene in Oussouye, becoming the first opposition mayor from the Senegalese Democratic Party of Abdoulaye Wade.

"He was the first liberal mayor in Senegal. The Socialist Party was all-powerful at the time, from 1960 until 2000, so practically all the municipalities were led by socialist mayors. To the great surprise of the Senegalese political class, Oussouye chose Égouloubène as his mayor, where he was a member of the Senegalese Democratic Party. I have many memories of the late Papa. I affectionately call him my papa because we grew up, we were born in his presence," said Ousmane Landry Diallo, the mayor of Oussouye.

The current mayor of the municipality of the late Égouloubène says he has fond memories of the man, whom he considered a father figure when he was younger.

"I always remember a meeting in Oussouye, particularly in Sarra-Demba, where I was impressed by his eloquence and his speech. And I remember well, I even wrote him a letter at the time to congratulate him, being very young. So, he's someone who, at one point, certainly accomplished a great deal for the municipality. Notably, the Oussouye market. I'm not saying it was him, but in any case, during that period, we felt the mayor's presence. And then quite a few other achievements. In any case, we remember our father, Ousmane Goulouben, very, very well; he certainly left his mark on the political scene in Oussouye," he emphasized.

Forced to resign and assigned far from his stronghold, the man returns a few years later to take back the Mayor's office

Forced to resign by the ruling party and reassigned to Matan as part of his job, this graduate of the National School for Rural Executives (ENCR) in Bambey, now the Higher Institute for Agricultural and Rural Training (ISFAR), withdrew from the mayor's office during his first term. Years later, he returned to reassert his authority and regain control. Ousmane Landry Diallo recounts this turbulent episode in the deceased's political and administrative life.

"You can't talk about politics in Ossouye without mentioning the name of Ousmane Égouloubéne, Diédhiou. He even did things there—I think history will tell us more. He was mayor, then there was a problem, he was dismissed, or he stopped. He was assigned to Matam. He came back. Then he was a candidate again, he won the elections. So that shows how powerful he was in Oussouye, how well-loved he was in Oussouye. And so, in any case, he was truly an example for us today, for this new generation of mayors who believed in their country, who believed strongly in their community, who believed strongly in the people of Kassa," the mayor of Oussouye emphasized.

The entire town of Oussouye prays for the repose of his soul. The mayor of Oussouye, on behalf of the municipal council, paid tribute to the memory of the man and offered the condolences of the town to his family, both biological and political.