He had a direct entry into the Ecole Nationale d’Administration et de Magistrature (ENAM) at a period the school was not very competitive because of very few prospectives.

[1] In 1976, he finished his studies at the ENAM and was thereafter posted to the foreign office where he performed various functions being in charge of the International Affairs (Africa Division and UNO) until 1978.

In October 1978, he was appointed as the diplomatic advisor of Leopold Sedar Senghor (President of the Republic at that time) who was in search of somebody with an international background who can write.

Although integration is difficult, Dieng seemed optimistic, and was encouraged by the theory of "the concentrated circles", an idea of Leopold Sedar Senghor.

His platform included: In a sense he campaigned for changes to the economic, political, institutional, cultural and social structure, with the goal of reducing the rate of unemployment in Senegal.

Dieng came in third place in the election with 13.56% of the vote, behind the winner, president Abdoulaye Wade, and Idrissa Seck.

[3] Shortly after the election, Wade mentioned Dieng as one of several opposition leaders who would be facing prosecution for alleged corruption.