Abdou Diouf

Abdou Diouf (b. September 7, 1935, Louga, Senegal) served as the President of Senegal from 1981-2000. Diouf held a number of high-level government positions including Prime Minister of Senegal, February 26, 1970 – December 31, 1980; Secretary-General of the Organization internationale de la Francophonie from January 2003 to December 2014; and served as the first President of Senegambia, December 12, 1981-September 30, 1989. He oversaw the creation of Senegambia, a union of The Gambia and Senegal that existed between 1982 and 1989. He was active internationally as Chairman of the Organization for African Unity (1985-1986 and 1992) and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (1991–1992).