A prominent civil society organization in Senegal, the Mouvement autonome chrétien pour le développement durable (MAC 20), observed on June 10, 2017, that the political involvement of the nation’s Christian population remained notably limited and cautious.
Formed just months earlier in February with the specific goal of empowering Christians in the political sphere, the movement convened a significant forum. Held in Mbour, south of Dakar, the event focused on the theme: “Christian Political Engagement and Leadership.” Augustin Tine, the Minister of Armed Forces, presided over this gathering, which was strategically organized in anticipation of the legislative elections scheduled for July 30.
The absence of Christian political leadership
Speaking on behalf of MAC 20, President Emile Daly Diouf issued a clear call for Catholics to intensify their participation. He emphasized the importance of Christians assuming more substantial leadership roles within political parties. “Even though we constitute a minority Christian community, we aspire for this engagement to be far more widespread than it is currently,” Diouf articulated. He further explained that while Christians are indeed present within various political parties, a distinct Christian leadership presence is largely absent. According to Diouf, Christians must actively pursue opportunities for greater leadership and position themselves where critical decisions are formulated. “We want them to engage in political discourse and contribute to policy at a political level. We also seek to support religious authorities,” Emile Daly Diouf stressed. He noted that MAC 20 does not rule out the possibility of endorsing a candidate in the 2019 presidential election. “We do not intend to propose our own candidates, but rather to support existing ones – and that is a crucial distinction. We are urging Christians to actively participate wherever they are, and we will provide support for their advancement and leadership,” he affirmed.
Three Christians among 150 deputies
Christian parliamentarian Hélène Tine acknowledged the notably low representation of Christians in Senegal’s political life. “As full citizens, we cannot remain detached from political life and the governance of our society. The Church itself encourages us to participate,” she stated. Tine recalled that her own entry into politics was a direct response to the call from bishops. “It is imperative for Christians to become more deeply involved in politics. Despite their strong organization and dynamism, they tend to be somewhat disengaged from the political arena.” She highlighted that out of the 150 deputies currently serving in parliament, only three are Christian, with herself being the sole Christian woman among the 64 female parliamentarians. “Christian involvement in political life remains tentative. On national electoral lists, they are frequently placed in positions that do not facilitate their election,” she elaborated. “Efforts are required from both the Christian community and political parties to foster diversity, which has historically been a vital element in Senegal and must continue to be nurtured,” Tine concluded.
