Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has urged his compatriots to take full ownership of the country’s Economic and Social Recovery Plan and to actively support its implementation.
Speaking at the official launch of the initiative in Dakar on Friday, President Faye emphasised the critical role of citizen engagement in overcoming Senegal’s current challenges.
“What we expect from the Senegalese people is the understanding that we must first rely on ourselves to emerge from these difficulties,” President Faye declared, highlighting the importance of national unity and self-reliance in the plan’s success.
He went on to remind them that the world’s most admired developed nations were built by their own people.
“God didn’t send anything extraordinary to those countries—just men and women, each with two hands and ten fingers. It is the sons and daughters of those nations who built the countries we now envy,” he said.
To illustrate the latent potential within Senegal, the president pointed to the recent recognition of top student Pape Natango Goubay during a national academic awards ceremony.
“With determination, we can move mountains. If one Senegalese has done it, it means the same capacity lies within each and every one of us,” he stated with conviction.
Building on this message, Faye called on all Senegalese to stand behind the government and to contribute to the success of the recovery plan.
“This initiative will not be carried out without you. It will be done for you. It will be done with you,” he stressed, underscoring the participatory nature of the strategy.
He also urged government officials to approach the implementation with solidarity, sustained effort, diligence, and resilience—laying the foundation for a homegrown development model driven by the collective commitment of the Senegalese people.
Concrete benefits already within sight
President Faye sought to reassure the public by pointing to tangible early gains from the plan. These include the hiring of 2,000 teachers, the planned recruitment of 500 university lecturers, and the addition of 200 instructors for vocational and technical education.
“These teachers—who are they here to serve? Our children. That’s what the benefits of recovery look like,” he noted, highlighting the direct impact of the plan on Senegal’s youth and future.
Reaffirming his commitment to inclusive governance, President Faye recalled that a “consultative leadership” model had been established since his election, marked by national forums and general assemblies.
“We’ve spoken to each other with honesty. And together, we’ve crafted solutions that we believe are the most appropriate and effective for our country’s current situation,” he concluded.
ARD/ac/lb/as/APA