Five Months After Elections, Senegalese Have High Hopes for Their President
Citizens say the country’s youngest president has been transparent and swift with his policies, but there are still important issues yet to be addressed.
Senegalese believe “a radiant future [is ahead]” for their country, “but patience and self-sacrifice are needed.”
The election period in Senegal this year was a major test of the country’s democratic and civil liberties. With postponements leading to protests, and then arrests and more unrest, Senegalese were in contention with their rights to peacefully and freely choose their next leaders, while averting any possibility of a term extension by former president Macky Sall.
After weeks of uncertainty and a new election date, the elections birthed the country’s youngest president ever — Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax inspector and outspoken politician. In the lead-up to the elections, Faye was in detention, charged with spreading false news and defaming a constituted body in response to a post he made on Facebook accusing Sall of encroaching on judicial rights. Although he wasn’t well known, the detention and his subsequent emergence as a candidate, backed by the well-known, then-opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, have made Faye a fascinating figure in African politics.
But almost 150 days after his swearing-in, what kind of president has Faye been and how have the people of Senegal received his policies? The two recurring responses OkayAfrica received reiterate that Faye kept to his word by resigning from PASTEF, his political party, after assuming office. He has also remained respectful of the legal processes regarding the separation of powers. But that’s not where it ends.
Prioritizing peace
For 31-year-old Agri-food entrepreneur Assane Momar Diouf, Faye’s win was a much-needed victory for the people of Senegal who were arrested and detained for speaking out. According to Diouf, Faye’s administration has excelled at bringing peace and renewed faith in a democratic government free of intimidation.
“The biggest achievement of the Faye government since its arrival has been social peace, with no more internet blackouts or imprisonment for freedom of expression,” Diouf tells OkayAfrica. “In a short time, they have succeeded in lowering food prices, repaying an old debt to farmers and distributing seeds and fertilizers to those entitled to them without any embezzlement. The first steps towards accountability have been taken with the publication of reports by OFNAC (National Office Against Fraud and Corruption), the Audit Office and the reorganization of the High Court of the Judiciary.”
Ibrahim Ka Ndoye, a 29-year-old digital marketer, summarizes the past three months of Faye’s administration as stable. “After three years of uncertainty, the country is finally calm again. This has had a positive effect on the economy, which is picking up again. Tourism, which had been sluggish, is in full swing this summer. The average Senegalese is also showing greater interest in political issues,” Ndoye notes.
The rise in political consciousness, according to Ndoye, might be the biggest achievement of Faye’s administration. “The Senegalese, who used to lose interest in politics, are now very attentive to government decisions. Cabinet communiqués are closely scrutinized, and the signing of agreements and partnerships is now scrutinized, representing a significant step forward in constructing our democracy.”
Successful policies
For the people of Senegal, Faye’s administration has so far been able to successfully carry out policies beneficial to the socio-economic well-being of the people. People OkayAfrica spoke to note that a renewed vim by the ministers to engage with everyday people in Senegal has brought a new sense of proximity and understanding of the issues plaguing them.
“The ‘Set Setal’ national clean-up day is also a great success. His predecessor had already tried it, but without success. With this new government, we are seeing a collective mobilization of young people at the beginning of every month to clean up the country and develop active citizenship,” Ndoye says.
“Transparency is also a point of satisfaction. We have a government that communicates a great deal (perhaps even a little too much) with the public. Ministers do not hesitate to take the floor to demonstrate, with evidence, the results of their actions and the foundations of the various partnerships between the government, donors and technical or financial partners.”
The issue of unemployment
Still, unemployment continues to be one of the biggest problems plaguing the country, with 33 percent of the young population out of work, school or formal training as of 2022.
“Despite various initiatives by donors and the government, the problem remains. The problem, in my opinion, is that we are always looking for emergency solutions without really considering the real causes,” Ndoye says. “The reality is that young people are cruelly lacking in skills. Our education system does not allow learners to acquire technical skills at the end of their training. For example, students are increasingly abandoning scientific and technical subjects [in high school]. Universities are suffering from increasing overcrowding, which is not conducive to the development of talent because teachers are overstretched.”
There is also the matter of illegal immigration — a huge source of concern in Senegal. Hundreds of Senegalese die every year while making the dangerous trip, through the Atlantic Ocean, to the Spain-owned Canary Islands. Notwithstanding, citizens like Ndoye and Diouf say there is still more than enough time for Faye to adequately address these issues. As Diouf says, “A radiant future [is ahead], but patience and self-sacrifice are needed.”
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Over the course of 2024, 20 African countries will be holding elections. For more election coverage, check out our Election Tracker.
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