Senegal: The election of Bassirou Diomaie Faye, who has two wives, sanctifies the “tradition of polygamy”

The scene is unprecedented in Senegal. Just a few minutes before the end of Bassirou Diomaie’s presidential campaign, Fai strides out onto the platform, holding the hands of his two wives, Marie and Absa. Amid the applause of thousands of cheering supporters, the break and Pan-Africanist candidate decided to openly display his polygamy, a traditional and religious practice firmly rooted in Senegalese culture, ahead of his triumphant election in the first round of voting with 54.28% of the votes. .

Little known to this day, Marie Hone, the first woman he married fifteen years ago and with whom he has four children, comes from the same village as him. He married his second, Absa, a little over a year ago.

Many women are against this practice

“This is the sanctification of the tradition of polygamy at the top of the state, a situation that will correspond to the Senegalese reality,” assesses sociologist Djibi Diakhate, adding that the practice is “popular” among many men, but many women remain “suspicious” of the principles governing it.

Many of them say they oppose the practice, which they consider hypocritical and unfair to them. And the UN Commission on Human Rights, in its report published in 2022, decided that polygamy constitutes discrimination against women that must be eradicated.

Although it is difficult to quantify because many marriages are not registered, according to a 2013 report by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography, 32.5% of married Senegalese live in polygamous unions. According to sociologist Djibi Diakate, Bassirou Diomaie Fay sent “a strong signal to other men to also acknowledge their polygamy and demonstrate the same transparency as him” with “no doubt a desire to end the practice of hidden polygamy called “Taku Souf” (in Wolof), which, he said, “will benefit the country’s economy and family situation.”