Senegal’s newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, is pushing for significant changes in the country’s political landscape, aiming for greater independence and sovereignty. One of his key proposals involves forging new partnerships with foreign companies.
Faye’s victory in the presidential election marked a decisive shift in Senegal’s political direction, aligning with the platform of the opposition party PASTEF and its coalition partners.
He and his mentor, Ousmane Sonko, pledged a complete departure from the political system of former President Macky Sall. This promise has struck a chord with the Senegalese populace, indicating a widespread desire for change.
“It is up to the entire population to accept change now. And change is collective before it is personal,” said Aissatou Gassama, a resident of the capital, Dakar.
Cutting Ties With France
Abdou Salam Camara, another resident, said, “We are still attached to France, which has always dominated and colonized us. To talk about breaking away, we must first sever that link.”
What Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko have voiced as their goal is sovereignty.
According to El Hadji Saer Faye, Deputy Mayor in charge of planning and human resources in Ziguinchor and political leader of the Diomaye Faye president coalition, this means “resetting the counter to zero.”
“We had advocated a break, but a positive one,” he said. “To give the population confidence and a new lease of life.”
That includes an economic break, renegotiating partnerships with foreign companies, and ensuring that the Senegalese population benefits more directly from the country’s growth.
Radical Policy Change Ahead
“But that does not mean a complete break with the past,” said Fatou Bintou Sarr, part of the president’s campaign group in Pikine Nord.
“We are going to continue with what we have got, which has been approved and congratulated by everyone because the state is also a continuity. Now we will have to review what was being done and what the people did not agree with. What we have deplored since then, we will review for the good of Senegal.”
Fatou Bintou Sarr
Lucie Sane, an activist in the PASTEF party and a community development worker, expressed support for the concept of certain forms of continuity. “Continuity in the right sense! If it does not go against the interests of the population,” said Sane.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s historic ascension to the presidency at the age of 44 marks a significant milestone in Senegal’s political landscape. His youthfulness brings a sense of optimism to many in a nation where nearly two-thirds of the population is under 25 years old.
Throughout his campaign, Faye resonated with voters by critiquing the economic performance of the previous administration under President Sall. He advocated for a substantial shift in policy, promising a radical departure from the status quo.
Mamadou Samba Hane, an economics professor at the University of Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, highlighted the public’s demand for a robust agricultural sector.
Senegalese citizens seek self-sufficiency in food production, reduced reliance on imported goods, and most importantly, the creation of job opportunities for the youth.
“Admittedly, Macky Sall has invested several billion CFA francs in his Senegal Emergent Plan, and has built roads, hospitals, new universities, and transport infrastructure,” he said. “But these projects do not sufficiently meet the real needs of the Senegalese population.”
Growth Not Benefiting Senegal
Mamadou Samba Hane said there is economic growth today, “But this economic growth is being exported, because it is being made by these foreign multinationals and is not really benefiting Senegal. The best solution would be to think about industrializing our economic fabric.”
Hane does not see a risk that major investors will turn away from Senegal. The country offers extraordinary opportunities, he added.
“Whether we like it or not, people have to come [to Senegal] because it is going to be a major producer of gas in Africa, and of oil. There is also stability,” he said.
Hane believes agriculture, fishing, and future industrialization could create hundreds, thousands, or even millions of jobs. “Everything can be done, but you need political will, you need to give hope to these young people,” he said.
READ ALSO: Faye’s Win Resuscitates Call for Youthful Leadership in Ghana
