Recently appointed Minister Delegate for Livestock, Dr. Augustin Tine intends to retain his mandate as mayor of the municipality of Thiès-Est.

When questioned on the issue of holding multiple offices on Friday, June 12, a subject that has long fueled political debate in Senegal, the mayor assured that the President of the Republic had not asked him to give up his position as mayor.

"If I had been asked to choose between the two positions, I would probably have opted for the mayoralty of Thiès-Est," he said, stressing that the mandate of mayor constitutes in his eyes "the greatest honor" for a local elected official because of the proximity to the people.

The new junior minister clarified, however, that his appointment comes first and foremost with an obligation to achieve results within the Department of Livestock.

He affirms that he wants to deserve the trust placed in him by the Head of State and to work alongside the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock to achieve the set objectives.

When asked about Pastef's position, which has historically been critical of the accumulation of mandates, he nuanced the debate.

According to him, it should not be concluded that the president is in favor of holding multiple offices. "The president simply did not ask me to resign from my position as mayor," he explained.

This move nevertheless reignites discussions on the compatibility between government functions and local elected responsibilities, an issue that had prompted several positions within the current majority before it came to power.