Senegal President Macky Sall sacks PM Abdou Mbaye

BBC News, 1 September 2013

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President Sall has been in office
for 18 months

Senegalese President Macky Sall has sacked the prime minister he appointed soon after coming to power last year.

Abdou Mbaye, a former banker who did not belong to any political party, has been replaced by Justice Minister Aminata Toure.

"The president has asked me to form and lead a new government. I have accepted the job," she said.

A statement issued by a spokesman for President Sall gave no reason for Mr Mbaye's dismissal.

In March 2012 election Mr Sall defeated Abdoulaye Wade - who had been president for 12 years - promising to tackle poverty and corruption.

Senegal is seen as a beacon of democracy in West Africa and remains the region's only country never to have had a military coup.