Senegal has been celebrating the centenary of former president Abdoulaye Wade, a towering and divisive figure in the West African nation's modern political history, with official ceremonies presided over by current head of state Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Wade, who was officially born on 29 May 1926 in Saint-Louis, a historic city in northern Senegal, turned 100 last week, prompting days of tributes from politicians, ordinary citizens, and public figures across the country.
A two-day programme of events on 4 and 5 June centred on the Grand Théâtre de Dakar — itself one of Wade's signature construction projects — and the Monument of the African Renaissance, a towering bronze statue inaugurated during his presidency that has become a symbol of both his ambitions and his controversies. The celebrations included an official ceremony, a concert by popular Senegalese singer Wally Seck, and a scientific colloquium. National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, who in earlier years was one of Wade's fiercest critics, lauded him as "one of the most illustrious fathers of Senegalese democracy" — a striking tribute that reflects the broadly affectionate mood surrounding the centenary.
Known to Senegalese as "Gorgui" — meaning "the old man" in Wolof, the country's most widely spoken language — Wade founded the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS, liberal) in 1974 after persuading then-president Léopold Sédar Senghor to permit a legal opposition. He spent 26 years in opposition, was imprisoned multiple times under President Abdou Diouf, and ran for the presidency four times before finally winning in 2000 at the age of 74, under the slogan "Sopi" — "change" in Wolof. His victory represented Senegal's first democratic transfer of power. During his twelve years in office, he oversaw the construction of toll motorways, a new international airport, schools, and hospitals, championed African development through NEPAD, and introduced a gender parity law. Senegalese interviewed ahead of the anniversary highlighted his legacy of "innovation" and his decade-long fight to reach power.
Yet his presidency was also shadowed by controversy. He amended the constitution to extend presidential terms, attempted to stand for a third term in 2012 in what many considered a breach of his own commitments, and was accused of grooming his son Karim — a "super minister" who held multiple portfolios simultaneously — for the succession. Protests against his 2012 candidacy left at least six people dead and 150 injured. He was ultimately defeated in a runoff election by Macky Sall, a former ally, and left power without the dignified exit many felt he had squandered. After leaving office, he focused largely on securing the release of Karim, who was convicted of illicit enrichment in 2015 and later pardoned.
Wade has not commented publicly on recent shifts in Senegalese politics. Opinions on his legacy remain split: to admirers he is "the builder" and "the visionary"; to critics, "the monarch" or "the illusionist." That both camps have chosen this milestone to honour him says much about his enduring place in the country's national story.