Ensuring that his country is not destabilised and working to consolidate democracy and freedom under the rule of law. This is President Macky Sall’s credo. He made this commitment yesterday in Portugal, where he is on an official visit.
The Head of State reacted publicly to the latest violent demonstrations in June. It was from Portugal, where he is currently on an official visit, that President Macky Sall alluded to the latest riots. But he did so mainly to reassure Senegal’s donors, investors and other economic partners. The first of Senegal’s citizens has once again brandished the insurance card. I will ensure that our country is not destabilised, whatever the origin of this desire for destabilisation. We will be watching very vigorously.
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The latest riots, which shook the country, following the conviction of the leader of the Pastef party, Ousmane Sonko, for youth corruption to 2 years in prison and 20 million in damages to be paid to the former-masseuse, Adji Sarr, resulted in 16 deaths – a figure disputed by human rights NGOs and the opposition, who see it on the higher side -, numerous material damages and major losses for the economic fabric estimated at a hundred billion francs and several thousand workers sent to unemployment, according to calculations made by the Employers, during a press conference.
The government, which intends to « get to the bottom of these events », has announced the opening of investigations and has reported the presence of « hidden forces » among the rioters, who are accused of using firearms and Molotov cocktails, attacking institutions and looting.
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The Senegalese leader pledged to work towards consolidating democracy. During yesterday’s leg of his visit, President Macky Sall told the press after meeting his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: « We will continue our march towards economic emergence and the consolidation of democracy and freedom in Senegal, while of course respecting the rule of law ».
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At a time when the Senegalese government is the subject of much criticism and other forms of attack for its management of the country, the President of the Republic made it clear yesterday in Lisbon as reflected in this extract from his statement to the media. « I will ensure that Senegal remains up to the highest democratic standards », reiterated the Senegalese Head of State. Turning to his country’s economic prospects, the President of the Republic remarked: « We have an economic profile that has become very attractive. We’re going to start exploiting oil and gas this year. That may also explain all this frenzy. »
