Once a fierce defender of Ousmane Sonko and a key voice in the Pastef movement, Waly Diouf Bodian has been dismissed from his role as director of the Dakar Port Authority. The decision, announced by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, carries significant symbolism, particularly as a controversial 2022 Facebook post resurfaces—one that now seems to mock its own predictions.

In 2022, Bodian posted on Facebook with absolute certainty: “From April 2024 onward, citizen Macky Sall will no longer set foot in the Presidential Palace, unless he presents an official invitation from President Ousmane Sonko.” Two years later, fate has delivered a sharp twist—when Sall returned to Senegal, Sonko was not in power. Even more striking, Bodian’s removal coincides with the former president’s return, leaving many to wonder if the prophecy’s reversal played a role in the decision.

The wave of dismissals at the helm of Senegal’s major public enterprises continues unabated. Following the removals of Aïda Mbodji, Toussaint Manga, Ngagne Demba Touré, and Alioune Guèye, Bodian’s exit marks another high-profile departure in this sweeping restructuring.

On July 16, 2026, Waly Diouf Bodian was officially relieved of his duties after two years at the helm of the Dakar Port Authority (PAD). The Council of Ministers’ communiqué left no room for doubt: Bodian’s tenure has ended, and Doune Pathé Mbengue, a civil administrator and mayor of Cambérène, has been appointed as his successor.

Bodian was appointed on April 24, 2024, to replace Mountaga Sy and officially assumed leadership of the PAD on May 13 of the same year. Prior to this role, he served as the deputy director of Legislation and International Cooperation at the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains (DGID).

“Alhamdoulillah. I give thanks to God.”

Beyond his official role, Bodian was a relentless advocate for Ousmane Sonko, both online and in public discourse. His uncompromising defense of the Pastef leader often put him at odds with critics, earning him a reputation as one of the movement’s most outspoken figures.

When Sonko was hailed as the “Guardian of the Revolution,” Bodian took his allegiance 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 dismissal follows the removal of Sonko from the Prime Minister’s office, a move that sparked confusion among some Pastef supporters. Many expected Bodian to resign in protest, as several party officials had done to demonstrate solidarity with their leader. However, Bodian remained steadfast in his position, explaining in an interview: “There is a distinction between individual and collective decisions. Some have chosen to act on their own. But we are politicians, part of a party, and we follow the party’s guidance. I was not self-appointed; my appointment was made within the framework of the party’s decisions.”

Ultimately, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a different call. By removing Bodian from his post, the president has ended the tenure of one of Ousmane Sonko’s most loyal and vocal supporters at the Dakar Port Authority. Bodian’s response to his dismissal was characteristically measured. Without bitterness or public defiance, he shared a simple message on his Facebook page: