Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye, presided over Armed Forces Day, marked by a solemn ceremony and the presentation of new promotions of officers.
On this occasion, President Faye announced a series of reforms for the national defense system, in response to
new security challenges and his sovereign vision.
“As soon as the new National Assembly is installed, a bill on national defense and security setting out the broad guidelines of our defense architecture, adapted to the current context, will be examined,” he said.
This year’s Armed Forces Day is held under the theme: “Seeking technological and industrial sovereignty of the Armed Forces,” is part of the country’s new public policy framework, the fourth axis of which aims to build a “competitive and job-creating economy,” he added.
President Faye recalled that the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the need for increased strategic autonomy for nations like Senegal. At the regional level, the violence of terrorist groups raging in neighboring
countries requires, according to him, a review of the defense and security acquisition strategy.
“It is already reassuring that the armed forces have thought of submitting for validation a 2025-2029 military programming law aimed at establishing a multi-year plan for the expenditure that the state devotes to them,” he stressed, calling for a gradual removal of the defense and security tool from multiple hazards, and for true
independence.
“The creation of a real defense and security industry is today an imperative to complete the level of professionalism and influence that our armed forces have demonstrated for more than 60 years. We must
therefore change our paradigm to base our policies on solid and sustainable foundations that can ensure our autonomy and resilience,” Bassirou Faye went on to say, expressing his desire to make the most
of endogenous skills, particularly Senegalese researchers, engineers, inventors and craftsmen.
To achieve this objective, he instructed the Prime Minister and the government to mobilize all national, public and private stakeholders, as well as international partners, in a pragmatic approach.
“The Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed yesterday (Thursday) an important memorandum of understanding with a partner company for the implementation of a project to install
and operate a military vehicle assembly plant in Senegal,” said President Faye, adding that Senegal, while continuing its quest for sovereignty, remains open to external partnerships.
ODL/ac/fss/as/APA