Senegalese youth still waiting for change promised by new government: Video
Nearly a year after the election of President Bassirou Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, many young Senegalese are still waiting for the transformative changes they were promised.
With 75 percent of the population under 35 and youth unemployment in the double digits, frustration is growing among young people who feel left behind by the new administration.
“Life has been difficult for young people since the arrival of this new regime,” said street vendor Madiaw Pakha. “The police prevent us from selling on the street, and life is very expensive, which was not the case during President Macky Sall’s time. Sonko came here and made us many promises, but since then, we have not seen him again. It is time for the authorities to help us,” he told the AFP
Some young people, however, believe that the government needs more time to fulfill its promises. University of Dakar student Abdou Hakim Ndir acknowledged the economic challenges the administration is facing. “Currently, it's a bit difficult with the debt issues, but I believe that if we give them a little time, they will try to manage things,” he said. Fellow student Cheikh Astal Gadiaga echoed this sentiment, urging patience. “Citizens must be understanding while knowing that there were enormous difficulties in the past regime. Some issues need to be fixed before we can move forward.”
Fisherman Saliou Wade is among those who remain optimistic. “Compared to past years, Senegal now offers many opportunities, and I firmly believe that the new authorities can succeed if we support them. Many young people attempted illegal emigration because they had lost hope in this country, but today, we have authorities we trust. If we give them a little time, they will be able to succeed,” he said.
According to Modiene Joe Ndiaye, responsible for financing at the General Delegation for the Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth (DER), an overwhelming number of young people are seeking financial assistance. “We launched a campaign to receive funding requests with a budget of 5 billion CFA francs. In less than a month, we received 60 billion CFA francs in requests, which shows the motivation and expectations of the youth.”
