At the end of the 1990s, the Senegalese realized the unsavory situation of their country and the imperious need to observe an alternation that finally sounded the death knell of a party-state (Socialist Party, 39 years power) which will finally have been there only for itself, more than for the people. For fear that the first alternation – despite its immense wind of hope – will be transformed into a monarchy (passage of power from father to son among the Wade, Senegalese Democratic Party), the people took their responsibilities to elect the man of rupture , President Macky Sall. A second alternation acquired at the forceps by a conscious Senegal. Luckily, it is the wisest choice since the independence of the country in view of the volume and gigantism of structuring projects in just … seven years. At the end of this seven-year period, Senegal is at a crossroads. Now remains to ask whether Senegalese want to remain in the dynamics of emergence triggered by the excellent record of President Macky Sall or if they want to take the risk of retro-pedaling and plunge the country into a new uncertainty.
Choose to stay in the emergence dynamic or take new risks.
In renewal, there is always a risk. For decades, Senegalese have criticized the various leaders for lack of vision. For once God gives the country a visionary-builder in the person of President Macky Sall, why then venture not to grant him a second term and let him continue his work acclaimed beyond national borders .
It is known and logical that one does not change a winning team or a penetrating player. The re-election of President Macky Sall must be spontaneous in view of his praiseworthy and palpable record at the nook and cranny of the country. The country has made great progress on several levels, despite the words of an opposition that speaks only to oppose.
Senegal is a dynamic and constant economy
At all levels, Senegal has progressed. All turn signals are green. If Senegal passes peaceful elections, it will undoubtedly be in the top 5 most attractive countries very soon.
On the economic front, and despite a greater increase in imports (16.6% in 2017 against 6.7% in 2016) than exports (7.5% in 2017, after 4.1% in 2016), the Real GDP growth has improved by 0.7 points compared to 2016, reaching 7.1% in 2017 and 7.2% at the end of 2018. Senegal’s debt ratio is currently 47.7% of GDP and remains well below the WAEMU community standard set at 70%. What is even more remarkable is the consistency of performance since 2014.
With the export of oil, Senegal will move to a double-digit growth rate.
With a second mandate and a little more effort, Senegal will be able – albeit proportionately – to achieve real double-digit growth, or at least be in the same economic dynamics the most successful African countries. Structural and infrastructural efforts, in particular with the Senegal Emergence Plan, are already improving the competitiveness index.
On the agricultural front, Senegal’s progress is exceptional and perceptible. The development of agriculture is at the heart of the Senegal Emergent Plan (PSE) through the Program of Recovery and Acceleration of the Agricultural Cadence in Senegal (PRACAS). In April 2018, the Head of State had distributed 1000 units of agricultural teams worth 32 billion CFA Francs. This equipment consists of tractors, combine harvesters, civil engineering machinery, motor pumps, etc. is acquired as part of the cooperation between Senegal and India to achieve self-sufficiency in rice. President Macky Sall’s vision is to move from cash and subsistence agriculture to industrialized agriculture by increasing arable land, irrigated perimeters, operational modes, and by addressing water, material and logistical issues.
PRACAS advocates rice self-sufficiency through irrigated and rainfed rice production, groundnut production as part of a value chain approach and the development of market gardening and horticulture, a segment dedicated mainly to export.
Thus, from 527 000 tonnes of groundnuts in 2011 to 1400 000 tonnes in 2017, production has multiplied by 2.65 in 6 years.
President Macky Sall has also set up a National Rice Self-Sufficiency Program (Pnar), to increase the amount of rice produced in this northern region from 455,000 tons currently to 875,000 tons in 2020. Senegal is today 455 thousand tons of rice produced in the Senegal Valley as a whole. And by 2020, if the measures or strategies are implemented, it will reach 875 thousand tons of rice.
A host of supportive and supportive measures to support production and processing are needed. Starting with the partnership established with the National Agricultural Credit Fund of Senegal (CNCAS) to support agricultural policy, with a line of credit of 10 billion CFA francs around this institution for the financing of producers. On this register other points to highlight as the ecosystem developed around the valley, with units with a processing capacity of 339 tons / h. If all these units worked year-round, it’s almost a million tonnes that could be transformed. Between 2014 and 2018, there are more than 24 processing units that have already been installed. In the agricultural register, Senegal has produced about 400,000 tons of onions in 2017, compared to 190,000 tons in 2011, an increase of 110% in 6 years.
Lower prices for staple foods, rents and higher wages.
With President Macky Sall, Senegalese feel the progress on their table. The fourth president of Senegal puts an end to recurrent shortages of agri-food products (products and processed locally or imported) but also to bidding prices. Moreover, the first measures of President Macky Sall, April 20, 2012, focused on lower prices of staples, with immediate application. Two years later, followed the reduction of the price of bread. The baguette which cost 175 FCFA is now trading at 150 FCFA. President Sall did not stop there. In Dakar and its suburbs, which account for nearly 20% of Senegal’s 13 million inhabitants, 51.6% of households live in rent, President Macky Sall has lowered the price of rents by 29% for dwellings under 150,000 FCFA , 14% for those between 150,000 FCFA and 500,000 FCFA, and 4% for those exceeding 500,000 FCFA.
Decrease in the taxation related to wages. Salaries also showed a smile with a drop in taxation, ranging from 15 to 100%. This measure, which came into force on January 1, 2013, has raised the level of income of workers.
A country comfortably set on the path of emergence by 2035.
The rise of Senegal is based on the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), which has become the reference framework for President Macky Sall’s development policies aimed at driving the country on the path to emergence by 2035. The PES is based on on three strategic pillars: the structural transformation of the foundations of the economy, the promotion of human capital and good governance and the rule of law.
Thus in terms of infrastructure, Senegal is a reference in West Africa in view of the multiplication of structural projects in record time: the creation of a new city in Diamniadio in the Dakar region, the commissioning of Blaise Diagne International Airport, one of the largest and most modern airports on the continent, the Regional Express Train (TER) with a capacity of 115,000 passengers per day, which is coupled with a rapid and extended Transit Bus system to Blaise Diagne International Airport … .It also launched the reconstruction of 5 regional airports.
43 road infrastructure projects, 1,762 km in length and 4,000 km of rural roads.
In seven years, President Macky Sall has completed a vast program of 43 road infrastructure projects over a 1,762-kilometer stretch. With the commissioning of the Ila Touba motorway, the Senegalese highway heritage has increased from 32 km in 2011 to 221 km.
In urban areas, the “Promovilles” modernization program covers 32 localities, ie 168 km of paved roads with public lighting, sanitation and social infrastructure networks. In rural areas, more than 4,000 km of tracks have been made through the Community Development Emergency Program, the Casamance Development Pole (PPDC), the National Local Development Program and the Emergency Program. modernization of the border axes and territories.
The country also has a mineral and bulk carrier at Bargny-Sendoud, with a capacity of 7 million tons in its first year of operation. A port structured in 3 terminals, the first dedicated to liquid products is a 2.5 million tonne oil depot and a gas storage center. This port, coupled with a new power station, will accommodate larger ships of 120 thousand tons and more on the Senegalese coast and transform Bargny-Sendou into a real industrial hub of reference in the West African sub-region.
President Macky Sall has also built 13 bridges, breaking with the isolation of several localities, the most important of which is that linking Senegal to Gambia. Other bridges are under construction in the country including Foundiougne, Marsassoum, Fanaye, Wendou Bosséabé and Ganguel Souleh and will be inaugurated during the second term.
National Education: Huge progress, enhancement of scholarships, reframing of programs and the construction and rehabilitation of more than 10,000 classrooms, 340 elementary schools, 203 Colleges, 36glycées, 185 daaras (Koranic schools).
On the educational front, President Macky Sall has done better than all his predecessors. The arguments are numerous and palpable everywhere in Senegal. Education and training remain at the heart of its priorities. “Every child in this country, regardless of their social background, should have the chance to go to school, to be useful to themselves, their community and the nation,” he said. in his speech of December 31, 2018. Investments in education under his presidency have evolved from $ 310 billion in 2011 to $ 477 billion in the 2019 budget.
In his educational vision, President Macky Sall has expanded and upgraded the school map by building and rehabilitating more than 10,000 classrooms, 340 elementary schools, 203 colleges, 36 glyceras, 185 daaras and 20 blocks of science and technology, among other facilities.
The Zero Provisional Shelter project is launched and continues, “so that all children in Senegal study in dignified conditions,” said President Macky Sall.
A historic decision to value students’ scholarships! President Macky Sall won the hearts of students by making the historic decision to upgrade their scholarships in late May 2018 with effective implementation in October 2018.
Teachers have not been left behind. Since his arrival at the head of the State, President Macky Sall has dedicated a budget 2016, 5 billion for the support of the validation of the acts of vacation and contractualization, 24 billion for the handling of the reminders. For public and higher education, more than 500 billion CFA francs are injected each year, one-third of the state’s tax revenue. It also spent 800 million for zones of concerted development in education, 100 million for the medical evacuation of university staff, while regulating all the university questions like that of the reform of titles.
New high schools all over the country. In 2019, Macky Sall wants to rehabilitate the Lamine Guèye, Maurice De la Fosse, Galandou Diouf and Abdoulaye Sadji high schools … and build new high schools in Grand Yoff, Guédiawaye and the surrounding regions.
Improvement of national medical coverage. Here again President Macky Sall has strong arguments, pushing the “health revolution” further and initiating the famous Universal Health Coverage (Cmu) on September 21, 2013. The Cmu is a free medical care for children of less than 5 years old. Through this program, the consultations, vaccinations and hospitalizations of children under five have become free at the level of posts and health centers, that is to say, small-scale health structures. Ditto for the consultation of children in the emergency departments of hospitals and consultation of cases admitted to it. And since last January, all pathologies included in the package to be supported at the level of posts and health centers are treated free.
Subsidy of mutual health and free delivery of caesarean and child care.
As part of the reinforcement of financing mechanisms, Mutuelles de santé benefited from a partial grant of 225,970,500 CFA francs in 2013 and a targeted grant of 41,692,000 in 2014, for a total of 267,662,500 francs. CFA. The policy of free care for children from birth to five years of age benefited in 2013 from a total of 283 million, which increased in 2014 to 849 million. It has involved more than 800,000 children since its creation. For the free caesarean, 6,705 women benefited from this operation in 2013. The number of cases carried out, since the extension of the initiative throughout the national territory from 1 January 2014, is from 6157.
Huge progress in electrification and access to drinking water.
Under President Macky Sall, Senegal has more than doubled its energy production from 500 MW in 2012 to 1,141 MW in 2018. The country also has two projects of 60 MW solar and 150 MW wind turbine. With more than 3,000 km of transmission lines installed, Senegal’s modernized and densified electricity network is now upgraded. In the field of energy, figures and achievements speak for themselves. Under President Macky Sall, power cuts went from more than 950 hours of cumulative power cuts in 2011 to 24 hours in 2018.
Energy management is becoming more and more effective with the installation of several solar power plants and a wind power plant (Malicounda 20Mw in 2016, Mérina Dakhar, Tivaouane 20Mw in 2017, Bokhol 20Mw in 2016, Félou hydroelectric power plant for 15Mw for Senegal as part of the Omvs, Diamniadio 2Mw). Capacity building which allowed the reduction of the cost of electricity production, from 101.92 F CFA / KWh in 2012 to 55.26 F CFA / KWh at the end of 2016, resulting in a 10% decrease in tariffs electricity for Senegalese households from 1 January 2017.
The rehabilitation of energy infrastructure is also one of the major concerns of President Macky Sall: renovation of the Kahone power station, the 804 group of Boutoute, the acquisition of 5 generators for the Kolda region for 5 MW put into service on 29 November 2014, the extension of Senelec power plants running on heavy fuel oil to Bel Air, Kahone and Boutoute for 45.3 billion, etc. In 2012, the total production since independence throughout the national territory was 674.5Mw, while at December 31, 2016, it rose to 848Mw, hence 173.4Mw produced by the regime of President Sall. From 2012 to 2016, Senegal produced an average of 43.35Mw / year. It should be noted that the upward trend in domestic production will intensify with an additional 943.4 MW by July 2019, with the Sendou (125 MW) and Mboro (300 MW) coal plants, Kahone (20Mw), Mérina Dakhar, Tivaouane (20Mw), Santhiou Mékhé (20Mw), Sakal (20Mw), Ipp Solar scaling solar program in 2018 (100Mw), Diass (15Mw), the wind power plant of Taïba Ndiaye (150Mw between January 2018 and July 2019). Added to this are the ongoing projects at the Omvs that will significantly boost production, and considerable efforts in the transmission / distribution of electricity by the renewal of old infrastructure by new. In July 2019, production will be 943.4Mw, with an average of 134.77Mw / year since 2012. The battle of President Macky Sall is to achieve universal access to electricity in 2025 with an intermediate objective in 2020 of 60% of rural electrification of which 30% by department.
Rural electrification contributes to the reduction of rural poverty by the creation of non-agricultural jobs, with the emergence of trades (craftsmen and biogas masons for the construction of bio-digesters or the manufacture of accessories or detached pieces). The goal of President Macky Sall, as I said, is to achieve universal access to electricity in 2025 with an intermediate objective in 2020 of 60% of rural electrification of which 30% by department.
On the hydraulic part, we are heading towards the inauguration in 2019 of the large Keur Momar Sarr III construction site. Work on the flagship seawater desalination project at Mamelles is also under way. Once commissioned in 2020, these two infrastructures will produce 300,000 m3 per day, and will solve the water needs of the triangle Dakar – Thiès – Mbour, according to the outgoing president Macky Sall. In addition to 21,000 social branches, other cities, including Kaolack, Fatick, Koungheul, Diourbel and Ziguinchor will also benefit from additional capacity. In rural areas, President Macky Sall has carried out 683 multi-village boreholes since 2012. Today, the rate of access to drinking water is 98% in urban areas and 91% in rural areas.
And this is only a few palpable arguments of the record of President Macky Sall who should convince the Senegalese that such a Head of State, worker and builder of a new Senegal for them is their children, deserve again their trust and therefore a second term.
Sheikh Mbacké Sene,
Journalist, communication consultant and economic intelligence and writer.
