Message to the nation My dear compatriots, Tomorrow, April 4, 2023, we celebrate the 63rd anniversary of our country's accession to international sovereignty. I extend my warmest congratulations to each and every one of you. By a happy coincidence, our national holiday, symbol of what brings us together beyond our differences, is held this year under the sign of religious communion, in these blessed times of fasting and Lent. This is what reminds us of the heritage of the ancients; men of faith and courage, who defied colonial hostility and its so-called civilizing mission, and gave themselves body and soul to form, educate and guide, so that we may be what we are today: a free nation, rooted in its spiritual and socio-cultural values, and practicing its way of living together in diversity and harmony. We owe respect and protection to this ancestral legacy, the essential foundation of our model of society. I pay homage to our resistance fighters and our heroes, who, in the dark hours of slavery and colonization, fought the battle of honor and refused, at the risk of their lives and their freedom, that fate of our people be sealed in bondage and alienation. This memory of the past teaches us how lucky we are to live free and to transmit to our children the ardent desire for freedom and responsibility inherent in the dignity of a people. Independence Day is also a memorial exercise, remembering the immense sacrifices of our veterans in defense of the free world. I greet you with respect and affection, dear veterans. The memory of your sacrifices will always remain etched in our collective memory. Tomorrow, our youth and our armies, vital forces of the nation, will also be honoured. To you, officers, non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned members, I renew my confidence and my support. I salute the memory of your late brothers in arms and reiterate to their families my solidarity and my compassion. To the injured among you, I wish you a speedy recovery. On behalf of the nation, I repeat to you our satisfaction and our pride. I salute your loyalty to the army-nation symbiosis, your attachment to the values ​​of the Republic and the institutions, and your professional qualities in the conduct of your missions in the service of the nation and peace in the world. The difficult profession of weapons you have chosen has become even more complex and risky, in these times when threats are more diffuse, more numerous and more unpredictable. This is why, in the face of increasing dangers, we are continuing to secure the national territory with the establishment of new units even in the most remote areas, in order to better assert the sovereignty of the State and ensure the safety of people. and goods. With regard to the national gendarmerie, new surveillance and intervention squadrons have been created in 12 localities: Saraya, Bignona, Sédhiou, Kounkané, Ranérou, Ndioum, Podor, Kaffrine, Fatick, Mbour, Keur Massar and Diamniadio. As for the National Police, it has 10 new police stations: Parcelles Assainie Unit 15, Golf Sud, Dimagueune Sicap Mbao, Rufisque Est, Yeumbeul COMICO, Zac Mbao, Thiaroye, Linguère, Nioro du Rip, Koungheul, and soon in Keur Massar. These efforts are reinforced by the modernization of the means of investigation and the raising of the workforce, so that our Defense and Security Forces always remain up to their sovereign missions and the civil-military tasks entrusted to them, such as the preservation natural resources, the theme of Independence Day this year. Indeed, the protection of our natural resources remains at the heart of the priorities of our sovereignty, with the scarcity of resources, looting and illicit trafficking of all kinds, and the new mining, oil and gas vocation of our country. This is why I insist on the continuation of the Equipment Plans of our Defense and Security Forces, so that at all times and in all places, they keep the upper hand and are ready to respond. My dear compatriots, In my message for the New Year, I told you about our economic and social development programs and projects, including the state of execution of our infrastructure projects essential to the achievement of our objectives of emergence. Despite the difficult economic climate, the State is continuing its policy of supporting households, as evidenced by the measures to combat the high cost of living, including the reduction in rental prices. At the same time, all our infrastructure sites remain active, both in urban and rural areas, in accordance with our policy of development in social justice and territorial equity. Thus, after the flyovers of Yoff, Keur Gorgui, Saint Lazar, Lobatt Fall and Keur Massar, that of Cambérène and the Marsassoum bridge were put into service. In the same dynamic, I am happy to announce that the commercial operation of the BRT will begin during the second half of this year, with a fleet of 158 special buses, 100% electric, which will be powered by solar energy. It is a world first. The first buses will be delivered in May. The BRT will transport more than 300,000 passengers per day, without pollution, with internet on board, and in the best conditions of safety, comfort and regularity, like the TER. It will reduce the transit time between Guédiawaye and Dakar from 90 to 45 minutes and put 1,000 young people whose recruitment is in progress to work. My dear compatriots, Tomorrow, alongside our valiant Defense and Security Forces, our vibrant youth will also be honored at the Place de la Nation, because it is they who, ensuring the next generation, carry our hopes. for the future. To you young people, I would like to tell you that I fully appreciate your dreams, your legitimate aspirations and ambitions to be useful to yourselves, your families and your country. You remain at the heart of my concerns. This is the meaning of the investments we continue to make in education and training, including for our modern daaras. This is also the meaning of our employability support policies, through the teaching of know-how. In all the countries, experience shows that if the dissemination of book knowledge makes it possible to obtain a diploma, it is not enough to offer the qualification necessary for employment or self-employment. This is why we are further developing vocational education to better prepare our youth for working life. We want each level of training and diploma to correspond to a level of qualification that facilitates integration into the job market. This is what we do successfully in our Higher Institutes of Vocational Education (ISEP). And this is what we intend to do with the already finalized Program of 38 Departmental Vocational Training Centres. At the same time, the DER continues its activities of financing, supervision and advice in support of women and young people, throughout the national territory. As for the XËYU NDAW ÑI Programme, to date it has generated 63,650 jobs out of the 65,000 planned; while 14,150 young beginners benefited from the State-Employers Agreement, out of the initial objective of 20,000. The Community Agricultural Domains Program (PRODAC) and the Agropoles are also part of the response to the problem of employment and youth entrepreneurship, with the creation of economic development centers in our regions. We will do even more for youth employment with the forthcoming exploitation of our gas and oil resources. Thus, in collaboration with our partners, the National Oil and Gas Institute has trained 78 engineers and technicians who are already operational. Others are being formed. Furthermore, under the local content law, I urge our national private sector to invest more in the value chain of the oil and gas sector in order to create new job opportunities and income-generating activities. income for our young people. I look forward to discussing this point and others with the leaders of the employers' organizations during the audience that I will grant them in the coming days. This evening, I would also like to greet and encourage our 32,500 young enumerators engaged in the operations of the 5th general population and housing census scheduled for May 15 to June 15, in order to update our demographic and statistical data. My dear compatriots, Independence Day, which marks our rediscovered freedom, reminds us, at the same time, of the history that binds us and obliges us to build on the land of our ancestors the heritage that we must leave to our children. Each of us bears the responsibility. Therefore, it is up to us to draw from the source of the ancients the wisdom that inspires dialogue and consultation, to overcome our differences, in order to remain the Senegalese nation that brings us together and resembles us; a nation of peaceful coexistence, where the fate of each depends on that of his neighbour; because we are one and the same family. In this spirit, I remain open to dialogue and consultation, with all the living forces of the nation, with respect for the rule of law and the institutions of the Republic, for a united Senegal, a Senegal of peace, stability and national cohesion. Long live Senegal! Long live the Republic ! Good evening and Happy Independence Day. Release date 2023-04-03