Obituary: The untold story of Mody Niang, the watchdog who made rigor his cause

Mody Niang, a retired education inspector, columnist and committed author, died on Saturday. For decades, he scrutinized public affairs in his books and press appearances, championing high standards, good governance and education. A close associate of Ousmane Sonko and Pastef, he was appointed chairman of the board of the national daily Le Soleil by Bassirou Diomaye Faye in August 2024, then resigned in March 2025 for health reasons. He had said he planned to put down his pen after the 2019 presidential election, while urging Senegalese people to remain attentive to governance.