Un months after the unrest that marked Senegal, the address of the Head of State, Macky Sall, was expected on the eve of the celebrations of the 61e independence anniversary. No surprise therefore to see the president, in place since 2012, ensuring that he is “listening to the deep impulses of the country” at a time when the opposition accuses the government of being deaf to the primary demands of the populations, starting with those of youth.
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Promises …
“I will continue to meet the needs of access to infrastructure, water, electricity, education, health care, housing, employment and income-generating activities,” said President Macky Sall who promises to “always remain open to dialogue and consultation”. And to continue by invoking “peaceful coexistence” and calling for respect for institutions, whose symbols, such as public buildings, were attacked in early March. To be attentive to the burning social demand, he indicated that he had decided to redirect budgets to the tune of 450 billion CFA francs, or 675 million euros, towards youth employment, over three years, of which 150 billion in 2021. As of May, it is expected that 80 billion FCFA will be allocated to the recruitment of 65,000 young people in education, reforestation, public hygiene or road maintenance activities. “I want this to be the starting point for new responses to your needs in education, training, jobs, project financing and support for entrepreneurship,” he said, directly calling on the youth. And to dedicate to him, as well as to the security forces, the 61e anniversary of independence celebrated this Sunday, April 4. Despite the calming dynamic that he now wishes to instill in the country, President Macky Sall nevertheless wished to send a warning in order to avoid the disorders and violence observed during the demonstrations of last March.
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… and warning
Following the example of certain interventions of prominent personalities, he pointed out the emergence of voices emphasizing “particularisms” in a country which proudly prides itself on its cohesion. All this was highlighted when, from March 3 to 8, scenes of clashes and looting unprecedented since at least 2012 were observed leading to unrest that killed more than ten people.
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In fact, the arrest of the main opponent of the president, Ousmane Sonko, contributed to bringing to its height the accumulated exasperation in the face of the harshness of living conditions further aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also in the face of an exercise deemed too authoritarian of power. It should be remembered that the measures taken to contain the Covid-19 have severely affected the economy as well as large sections of the population, 40% of whom live below the poverty line. Result: the protest strongly mobilized young people in a population of which the under 20s represent more than half.
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Important point: elected in 2012, re-elected in 2019, Macky Sall, 59, said nothing about his intentions for the 2024 presidential election. This is the whole issue of the third term that is at stake, a subject on which he did not speak and where the opposition seems to be waiting for him at the turn.
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