Abdou Diouf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abdou Diouf
Abdu Juuf
Diouf in 2008
2nd Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
In office 1 January 2003 – 31 December 2014
Preceded by	Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Succeeded by	Michaëlle Jean
2nd President of Senegal
In office 1 January 1981 – 1 April 2000
Prime Minister	Habib Thiam Moustapha Niasse Habib Thiam Mamadou Lamine Loum
Preceded by	Léopold Sédar Senghor
Succeeded by	Abdoulaye Wade
President of Senegambia
In office 12 December 1981 – 30 September 1989
Vice President	Dawda Jawara
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
2nd Prime Minister of Senegal
In office 26 February 1970 – 31 December 1980
President	Léopold Sédar Senghor
Preceded by	Mamadou Dia (1962)
Succeeded by	Habib Thiam
Personal details
Born	(1935-09-07) 7 September 1935 (age 89) Louga, French West Africa (now Senegal)
Political party	Socialist Party
Spouse	Elizabeth Diouf
Alma mater	University of Dakar Pantheon-Sorbonne University

Abdou Diouf (born 7 September 1935) is a Senegalese politician. He was the second president of Senegal from 1981 to 2000. He is known for how he became president and how he left office.

Diouf took power peacefully after the first president stepped down. He also willingly left office after losing the 2000 presidential election. He lost to Abdoulaye Wade, who had been an opposition leader for a long time. Diouf also served as the second Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. This is an international group of French-speaking countries. He held this role from January 2003 to December 2014.

Early Life and Education

Abdou Diouf was born in Louga, Senegal. His mother was from the Toucouleur people and his father was from the Serer people. He went to primary and secondary school in Saint-Louis. Later, he studied law at Dakar University in Senegal. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Diouf finished his studies in 1959.

Start of His Political Journey

After finishing university, Diouf went back to Senegal. In September 1960, he became the Director of International Technical Cooperation. This role involved working with other countries on technical projects. In November 1960, he became an assistant to the Secretary-General of the Government. By June 1961, he was the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defense.

In 1961, Diouf joined the Senegalese Progressive Union. This political party later became known as the Socialist Party of Senegal. From December 1961 to December 1962, he served as the Governor of the Sine-Saloum Region. After that, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In May 1963, he became the Director of the Cabinet for President Léopold Senghor. He held this important position until December 1965.

From January 1964 to March 1968, Diouf was the Secretary-General of the Presidency. Then, he became the Minister of Planning and Industry. He stayed in this role until February 1970. At that time, he was named Prime Minister of Senegal.

Becoming President

In 1970, President Senghor brought back the position of prime minister. He gave this job to Diouf, who was his trusted helper. Senghor trusted Diouf because he had good experience in government. Also, Diouf did not have his own separate power base. This was important because the previous prime minister, Mamadou Dia, was accused of trying to take power illegally.

On January 1, 1981, President Senghor stepped down. Abdou Diouf then became the second president of Senegal. This was a peaceful transfer of power.

Elections and Challenges

Diouf in 1988

As president, Diouf continued to make Senegal more democratic. He held elections in 1983. He allowed fourteen different opposition parties to run. This was many more than the four parties Senghor had allowed. This change helped to divide the votes among the opposition. Diouf won the election with 83.5 percent of the votes.

In 1985, some opposing parties tried to form a group together. However, this group was broken up because the country's constitution did not allow political parties to form coalitions. Also in 1985, Abdoulaye Wade, who was Diouf's main political opponent, was arrested for a short time. This happened because of an unauthorized public protest.

Elections were held again in February 1988. Diouf won with 72.3 percent of the votes. Wade received 25.8 percent. The opposing parties claimed that there was cheating in the election. After this, there were public disturbances. Diouf declared a state of emergency, which meant he had special powers to keep order. Wade was arrested again and held until May of that year.

Senegambia and Regional Issues

Under President Diouf, Senegal agreed to form a special union with its neighbor, Gambia. This union was called Senegambia. It began on December 12, 1981, and officially started on February 1, 1982.

However, in April 1989, a conflict started between Senegal and Mauritania over their border. This led to fighting between different groups of people and Senegal ended its diplomatic relations with Mauritania. As the region became unstable, the Senegambia union was ended.

Later Elections and Peaceful Exit

George and Barbara Bush host Abdou and Elizabeth Diouf at the White House, 1991

Diouf was reelected in February 1993. He won with 58% of the votes for a seven-year term. The length of the presidential term had been extended by two years in 1991.

In the first round of the 2000 elections, on February 27, Diouf received 41.3% of the votes. Abdoulaye Wade, the long-time opposition leader, got 30.1%. In the second round on March 19, Diouf received 41.5% of the votes, while Wade won with 58.5%. Diouf accepted his defeat and left office on April 1.

One of Diouf's most important actions for peace in Africa was this peaceful transfer of power. He gracefully gave up his position to Abdoulaye Wade, his long-time political rival. When Diouf left office, Wade even suggested that Diouf should receive a Nobel Peace Prize. This was because he left office without any violence.

Leadership of the Socialist Party

Abdou Diouf was the Deputy Secretary-General of the Socialist Party when Senghor was the leader. In 1981, Diouf became the Secretary-General of the party. In 1996, the party was reorganized. Diouf became the President of the Socialist Party. Ousmane Tanor Dieng became the First Secretary, a position Diouf had suggested.

Working with International Groups

Diouf in 2015

Diouf has been very active in international organizations. He worked with these groups both during and after his time as president. He was the President of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) from 1985 to 1986. Soon after he was elected, he asked François Mitterrand, the President of France, for help. This led to France strongly supporting actions against South Africa. In 1992, Diouf was reelected as President of the OAU for another year. He also helped to create the Goree Institute.

After he finished his term as President of Senegal, Diouf was chosen to be the Secretary-General of La Francophonie. This happened at a meeting in Beirut on October 20, 2002. He started this job on January 1, 2003. He was reelected for another four years at a meeting in Bucharest in September 2006.

Diouf is also an important member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation. He is also on the honor committee of the Fondation Chirac. This foundation was started in 2008 to promote world peace. Additionally, he is one of the 25 leading figures on the Information and Democracy Commission, which was started by Reporters Without Borders.

Honours and Decorations

Ribbon bar	Country	Honour
	Senegal	Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion
	Senegal	Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
	France	Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
	Canada	Grand officier of the National Order of Quebec
	DR Congo	Grand Cordon of the Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba
	DR Congo	Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Leopard
	Organisation internationale de la Francophonie	Grand Cross of the Order of La Pléiade
	United Kingdom	Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
	South Africa	Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope
	Austria	Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
	Portugal	Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
	Libya	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Grand Conqueror

See Also

In Spanish: Abdou Diouf para niños