Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on Wednesday that a prominent street in Dakar, previously named after former French President Charles de Gaulle, will now be named after Mamadou Dia, a key figure in Senegal’s independence. The street, known as Boulevard General-de-Gaulle, is a central part of the capital and has traditionally hosted the Independence Day parade.
The renaming of the boulevard, which leads to an obelisk symbolising Senegal’s independence from France, will be officially marked during this year’s Independence Day celebrations. The change aligns with a broader initiative by President Faye to replace colonial-era monuments and streets with names of national and African heroes.
Mamadou Dia, who served as Senegal’s first prime minister following the country’s independence in 1960, is widely regarded as one of the fathers of Senegalese independence, alongside Leopold Sedar Senghor, the nation’s first president. Dia passed away in 2009 at the age of 98. His name will now replace that of de Gaulle, who led France during the time of Senegal’s independence.
This move follows Faye’s announcement in December during the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where he expressed his intention to rename colonial-era symbols in favor of African and Senegalese figures. Mamadou Dia, despite being imprisoned for allegedly plotting to overthrow Senghor in 1962, is remembered as a pivotal figure in the nation’s post-colonial history.
