Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has renamed a major street in Dakar previously dedicated to former French President Charles de Gaulle, choosing instead to honour Mamadou Dia, a key figure in Senegal’s independence.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, April 2, means that Boulevard General-de-Gaulle, which traditionally hosts the country’s Independence Day parade, will now bear Dia’s name, according to a government statement.
The renaming will coincide with Independence Day celebrations on Friday, marking what the government described as a symbolic change for the “emblematic axis of the capital.” The boulevard leads to a giant obelisk that symbolizes Senegal’s independence from France.
Faye had previously expressed his commitment to reclaiming historical narratives by renaming streets, buildings, and colonial-era monuments in honor of national and African figures. His announcement came during commemorations in December for the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where French colonial forces killed West African soldiers demanding fair treatment.
Mamadou Dia, who died in 2009 at the age of 98, was Senegal’s first prime minister following its independence from France in 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the architects of Senegalese sovereignty, alongside the country’s first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor.
Dia’s political career was overshadowed by a major power struggle in 1962 when he was accused of attempting to overthrow Senghor. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1963 but was released in 1974 and later pardoned. Despite his controversial political fate, he remains a revered figure in Senegal’s history, and the renaming of the boulevard marks a significant step in honoring his legacy.
