The moment in Bambali that echoed beyond the ceremony

During the foundation-laying ceremony for the SM10 Agro agro-industrial project on Saturday, National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko lightened the mood by teasing international football star Sadio Mané about a possible political run in 2029. In a joking tone, Sonko suggested that if Mané ever entered politics, he would find a rival waiting for him—even in Mané’s own hometown of Bambali.

Sonko reminded the crowd that Mané has never been involved in politics, but he invoked the example of former Liberian footballer and president George Weah to illustrate how athletes can transition into leadership. Then he delivered the line that drew laughter: “Football is yours, but politics is mine.” He even quipped that he could defeat Mané electorally right in Bambali.

Yet the exchange was not a declaration of any candidacy by Sadio Mané. Senegalese media present described it as a good-natured moment woven into a speech where Sonko mostly praised Mané’s career and his commitment to his home region.

SM10 Agro: a billion-dollar bet on Casamance’s fruit economy

The ceremony marked the launch of SM10 Agro, a project valued at 11.7 billion CFA francs. Spanning roughly 500 hectares, the complex is designed to process mango and aims for an annual capacity of about 8,500 tonnes. Promoters say it will create more than 1,000 direct jobs at the start, with a target of up to 2,500 positions.

Sonko presented Mané as one of Senegal’s finest ambassadors and recalled having suggested back in 2023 that the footballer invest in agriculture and local processing. The project seeks to better valorize fruit production in Casamance and cut post-harvest losses.

What the project means for jobs and the local value chain

According to project officials and Senegalese authorities, SM10 Agro will combine production, processing, and marketing. The initiative enjoys institutional support, notably from APIX, as part of a policy to develop local agricultural value chains.

For residents of Bambali and the wider Casamance, the stakes are tangible: new employment opportunities, reduced waste of fruit harvests, and a boost to the regional economy. The political banter between Sonko and Mané may have stolen the spotlight, but the underlying message is about economic transformation—and how sport, politics, and business increasingly intersect in Senegal’s public life.