From the vibrant streets of Paris to the communities of Massy and Creil, Alioune SARR, President of the Alliance pour le Sénégal / Andando Ngir Senegaal (APS/ANS), has been actively engaging the Senegalese diaspora in France. His mission centers on forging a groundbreaking pact between Senegal’s territories, its dynamic diaspora, and the nation’s economic sovereignty.
As part of his extensive European tour, Mr. Alioune SARR, a prominent figure in African politics, embarked on a series of direct engagements with Senegalese residents across France. His aim was to articulate his forward-looking vision for the future of Senegal and to strengthen the crucial ties linking the diaspora to the country’s diverse regions.
President SARR personally connected with his compatriots in their homes and community hubs. Notably, he visited the Foyer Les Mûriers in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, and later traveled to Massy in the Essonne department. During these candid discussions, he exchanged views with numerous Senegalese citizens on the nation’s challenges, the diaspora’s expectations, and the immense development opportunities present within Senegal’s territories.
These invaluable encounters allowed the President of the Alliance pour le Sénégal to directly absorb the concerns of Senegalese living abroad, while also gathering their innovative proposals for enhancing Senegal’s economic, social, and territorial development.
Strong mobilization in Creil
The tour continued its momentum in Creil, located in the Oise department within the Hauts-de-France region, where Senegalese compatriots demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm for the vision championed by the Alliance pour le Sénégal.
The gathering was expertly presided over by Ms. Amy Faye, the Alliance pour le Sénégal’s political leader in France. She brought together Senegalese from Creil and surrounding areas to discuss President Alioune SARR’s strategic directions and the party’s comprehensive political agenda.
In her address, Ms. Amy Faye commended President Alioune SARR’s unwavering commitment to the diaspora. She underscored the vital importance for Senegalese abroad to fully participate in shaping the Senegal of tomorrow, contributing to the nation’s prosperity.
The attentive audience, comprising community leaders, workers, students, entrepreneurs, and Senegalese families, expressed keen interest in the proposals put forth, particularly those focusing on territorial development, productive investment, and achieving full economic sovereignty.
A powerful message to the political class
Throughout the dialogues conducted during this tour, Alioune SARR consistently reiterated his firm belief that Senegal requires a refreshed governance model. This model, he asserted, must be built upon the foundations of dialogue, shared responsibility, and collective national construction.
For the APS President, the critical stakes of national development transcend partisan divisions, demanding a concerted mobilization of all active forces within the Nation. He declared, « We may be political adversaries, but we must never be enemies of the Republic. »
He thus urged all political actors to prioritize practical solutions, the overarching national interest, and sustained economic development over mere positional disputes, fostering a spirit of unity in African economy news.
The limitations of a centralized model
A crucial insight gained from this tour was the imperative to re-evaluate public policies, grounding them in the distinct realities of Senegal’s territories.
According to Alioune SARR, decades of excessively centralized development have demonstrated their inherent limitations, concentrating investments and opportunities disproportionately in a handful of major urban centers. He stated, « When everything is decided at the center, the territories wait. When the territories decide and act, the country moves forward. » He believes Senegal must now lean more heavily on its local authorities to foster more evenly distributed and inclusive growth across the nation.
Dakar and the territories: a shared national ambition
Rejecting any notion of opposition between Dakar and the rest of the country, Alioune SARR articulated a vision rooted in the complementarity of all regions. « Dakar is the heart of Senegal, but the territories are its lungs. No country can breathe fully with just one lung. It is together, through the complementarity of all our territories, that we will build a sovereign, prosperous, and balanced Senegal. » He contends that Senegal’s development can only be sustainable if each territory is empowered to leverage its unique resources, create employment opportunities, and attract vital investments.
« When Dakar beats stronger and the territories breathe better, all of Senegal grows. »
Notto Diobasse Smart City, a territorial model
Drawing inspiration from the success of Notto Diobasse Smart City, Alioune SARR presented this initiative as a tangible illustration of the transformative potential inherent in Senegal’s territories.
He emphasized that Senegal’s progress will be driven by the establishment of regional hubs for production, innovation, training, industrialization, and services. « Senegal will not develop from Dakar towards the territories. It will develop from the territories towards Dakar. »
For the APS President, every territory must evolve into a driving force for national development, contributing significantly to the creation of collective wealth.
Land as development capital
During his engagements, Alioune SARR also underscored the critical need to fundamentally change the perception of land ownership and use.
He views land as a strategic capital asset that must be judiciously enhanced for the benefit of both present and future generations.
« A hectare has no value because it is sold. It has value because it is developed. » Comparing the sale of undeveloped land to the export of raw materials, he passionately advocated for a strategy of transformation that generates jobs and wealth.
« Rich nations do not sell their resources. They transform them. »
« Selling land is consuming the future. Developing land is building the future. »
The diaspora, a strategic development partner
Throughout his tour, Alioune SARR consistently highlighted the pivotal role the diaspora must play in Senegal’s development. He implored Senegalese abroad to increasingly become investors, builders, and active partners in territorial development.
« The Diaspora is not an ATM. The Diaspora is an open-air ministry of development. »
For him, the future of Senegal hinges on a robust alliance between its territories, its diaspora, its youth, women, entrepreneurs, and local communities, embodying a pan-African journalism perspective on development.
A new national pact
Concluding this impactful tour, the President of the Alliance pour le Sénégal issued a compelling call for the establishment of a new national pact, firmly anchored on three essential pillars:
- Strong territories;
- A mobilized diaspora;
- An asserted economic sovereignty.
The significant mobilization witnessed in Paris, Massy, and Creil confirms the growing interest of Senegalese living abroad in crucial territorial development issues and their strong desire to actively contribute to Senegal’s transformation. President Alioune SARR concluded his tour with these profound words: « We did not come to manage the future. We came to build it. »
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