Photo credit: Presidency of Senegal
His Excellency Mr. President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye delivered a message to the Nation on the 64th anniversary of Senegal’s independence. In this speech, filled with gratitude and vision for the future, the President praised the Senegalese people for their democratic maturity and commitment to peace and democratic values.
“The significant changes we have recently experienced peacefully once again demonstrate the maturity of our people, the vitality of our democracy, and the strength of our institutions. We should all be proud of this remarkable achievement,” he declared.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the Independence Day celebrations will be modest this year. “Once again this year, by divine grace, our national celebration takes place under spiritual communion, with the recently concluded Paschal Holy Week and the ending of Ramadan month. Given the circumstances, instead of the traditional parade, I will preside tomorrow at the Presidential Palace over a solemn and symbolic flag-raising ceremony,” announced the Head of State.
President Faye also paid tribute to the heroes of the independence struggle and the veterans who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom. He emphasized the importance of defense and security forces in maintaining peace and national unity. He expressed his commitment to supporting the Senegalese youth, addressing employment challenges and the high cost of living.
“Dear youth of Senegal, I share your dreams, aspirations, and legitimate ambitions for success to be useful to yourselves, your families, your communities, and your country. Education, vocational training, employment, youth, and women entrepreneurship remain major challenges. I will prioritize them in public policies in collaboration with the private sector. For this purpose, we must review existing mechanisms and improve and rationalize them to better meet the needs of employment and other income-generating activities for the youth. To promote job creation, I intend to rely on a strong private sector supported by the State. We will work together to internalize our economy based on our priority needs. Of course, the international private sector will have a significant role to play. Senegalese people are brave but tired and expect solutions from us against the high cost of living. The cost of living particularly concerns me and holds my full attention. Strong measures will be taken in this regard in the coming days, following consultations with the relevant stakeholders,” pledged Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the Nation.
He also announced strong measures to fight against corruption. “In the quest for a better Senegal for the benefit of all, I intend to establish virtuous governance based on the ethics of responsibility and accountability. Furthermore, I will promptly engage in a bold policy for economic and financial good governance through the relentless fight against corruption, penal repression of tax fraud and illicit financial flows, protection of whistleblowers, combating embezzlement of public funds and money laundering, amnesty for strawmen and their involvement subject to self-denunciation; publication of reports from the Inspectorate General of State, the Court of Auditors, and the National Anti-Corruption Office.”
President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye is committed to improving the country’s economic and financial governance, especially in relation to the exploitation of natural resources. “The exploitation of our natural resources, which, according to the Constitution, belong to the people, will particularly capture the attention of my government. In addition to the already effective online publication of mining, oil, and gas contracts on the ITIE Senegal website, I will disclose the effective ownership of extractive companies, following the ITIE Standard, conduct audits of the mining, gas, and oil sector, and provide more sustained protection of local content for the benefit of the national private sector. Moreover, I would like to say to all our private partners that they are welcome in Senegal,” he added.
The domain of justice will be addressed. Indeed, the newly elected President intends to “restore its reputation” by “giving it the value it deserves and reconciling it with the people for whom it is rendered. I plan to organize forums bringing together the legal professions (judges, lawyers, bailiffs, clerks, and other judicial auxiliaries), university professors, and citizens to identify solutions to justice issues.”
In a call for unity and solidarity, President Faye invited all citizens to work together to overcome obstacles and continue the country’s development. He said, “There is an urgent need to achieve our food sovereignty by investing more and better in agriculture, fishing, and livestock farming, our country’s three main food sources. I particularly want considerable yearly subsidies in the agricultural campaign to benefit real producers and not intermediary actors.”
The President of the Republic concluded his speech by expressing his confidence in Senegal’s future and calling for unity of hearts and minds to make the country a united, free, and prosperous place.
