Senegalese musician Youssou Ndour was on Wednesday April 4, 2012 appointed Minister of Tourism and Culture in the cabinet of newly nominated Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye, the BBC reported.
Mbaye, a former banker turned business executive, was appointed by President Macky Sall on Tuesday and had promised that his trimmed down government of not more than 25 members would be named the following day.
According to AFP news agency, Amadou Kane, a banker and former head of the Senegalese branch of French bank BNP, was named Minister of the Economy while the renowned ecologist of Lebanese origin, Ali Haidar, who has been heavily involved in the protection of the marine environment, was named Minister of Ecology. President Sall’s allies were also appointed to key positions such as Home Affairs, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Communication and Education.
One of Africa's most recognised artistes, Youssou Ndour sent shock waves through the music industry when he announced in January that he was giving up performing to run for president amid rising tension over President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term in office.
Shortly afterwards, the country's Constitutional Council rejected Youssou’s candidacy on grounds that he had failed to provide enough valid signatures to back his application. The same court ruling validated President Wade's contentious candidacy, sparking deadly riots as anger grew over the 85-year old's plans to rule for another seven year term.
One of Africa's most successful singers, Ndour, 52, later threw his weight behind Macky Sall in elections in March. The Grammy Award-winning Youssou Ndour is one of 25 new appointees to the cabinet of Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye. Ndour is very popular in Senegal where he owns an influential media group, a night club and a music studio.
The singer comes from a modest family background and left school with few qualifications but he is considered a fine businessman. Earlier this week, in celebration of Sall's victory, Ndour performed live in one of the main squares in the capital, Dakar, where opposition supporters often clashed with security forces during the election campaign.
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