*Abdoulaye Wade Turns 100: The Century of a Giant of Senegalese Political History* *This Friday, May 29, 2026, marks a historic milestone for Senegal and Africa. Former President Abdoulaye Wade officially celebrates his 100th birthday. A century of an extraordinary life for the man his supporters affectionately call "Gorgui" (the old man, in the Wolof language): by turns a historic opposition figure, a nation-building president, and then an indomitable patriarch of the West African political scene.* At 100 years old, the former head of state (2000-2012) refuses to admit defeat by the weight of years. Living in Versailles, France, he maintains a lifestyle that would make younger people envious, demonstrating an iron discipline. According to recent information obtained by the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) from his chief of staff, Alioune Diop, the former president maintains particularly busy days. "To this day, Mr. Abdoulaye Wade has full days that begin as early as 9 or 10 a.m. and end around 11 p.m., midnight, or 1 a.m.," the head of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) confided during an interview with APS. Those who imagine him to be frail are mistaken. Mr. Diop, who visited him just two months ago at his residence in France, describes a man in excellent shape, very particular about his physical routine. Every morning, before sitting down for breakfast, the doyen of African politicians takes a dip in his pool for his daily swim, followed by a short walk. This regular exercise is complemented by a hearty meal, a sign of his enduring robustness. *An Intellectual Testament: Five Years of Intense Writing* Beyond sports, Abdoulaye Wade has dedicated the last five years to a monumental task: writing his memoirs. Known for his powerful ego and fertile mind, this graduate in law, economics, and applied mathematics has filled thousands of pages. In conversations reported by the APS (Senegalese Press Agency), Mr. Wade proudly confided to his collaborator, pointing to his library: “If Karim [his son] were to succeed in taking power, you wouldn’t even need to think about anything. You would just have to come and read and implement. I have reflected on everything in every area of society. It’s all there.” His writings focus primarily on the future of Africa and the analysis of contemporary geopolitical tensions. The rest of his time is divided between working sessions with his teams and granting audiences to visitors from all walks of life who come to seek the advice of this elder statesman of the continent. From "President of the Street" to the Head of State* Born on May 29, 1926, the son of a merchant, the young Wade won a scholarship to study in France. At the University of Besançon, he met Viviane Vert, who would become his wife. They had two children: Karim and Sindiély. Returning to Senegal in 1960, the year of independence, he taught law and established himself as a lawyer. But it was politics that would seal his fate. In 1974, during the one-party regime of Léopold Sédar Senghor, he managed to convince the latter to let him found the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). Thus began a quarter-century of fierce opposition. Under the regime of Abdou Diouf, Wade was arrested and imprisoned several times. An unparalleled orator and a gifted speaker, he earned the popular nickname "President of the Street." *The Triumph of 2000 and the Trap of Power* The year 2000 marked his triumph. At 74, on his fifth attempt, he finally reached the highest office. The gesture of his predecessor, Abdou Diouf, who immediately conceded defeat, enshrined Senegal in the pantheon of democratic models in Africa. In power, the staunch liberal transformed himself into a "builder": he launched major projects that would reshape Dakar (highways, a new international airport, the Grand National Theater), and built schools and hospitals. But his record is also marred by repeated financial scandals, persistent poverty, and the quagmire of the Casamance conflict, which he had nevertheless promised to resolve "in 100 days." History will also remember 2012 as the year of his break with a segment of the Senegalese people. At 85, deaf to the warnings from the streets, particularly those of the "Enough is Enough" citizens' movement, and to the criticisms of his Western allies (France and the United States in particular), he stubbornly clung to his quest for a controversial third term. This pre-election crisis cost the lives of several protesters. Forced into a runoff against his former Prime Minister and chosen successor, Macky Sall, whom he had abruptly sidelined, Abdoulaye Wade eventually relinquished power, but not before trying until the very end to push his son Karim, the "super-minister" of his government, toward the succession. Today, as he crosses the mythical threshold of 100 years, political passions have subsided, giving way to the respect due to longevity. Whether he was idolized as the modernizer of the country or criticized for his monarchical rule, Abdoulaye Wade has definitively entered the pantheon of African history while still alive.