New Senegalese president Faye pledges to uphold good governance
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on Wednesday pledged to uphold good governance based on the ethics of responsibility and accountability.
In his message on the eve of Thursday's celebration of the 64th anniversary of independence, the head of state promised to initiate without delay "a bold policy of good economic and financial governance", the official Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported.
President Faye was sworn in on Tuesday after winning the presidential election on 24 March in the first round.
APS quoted him as saying this policy would result in the relentless fight against corruption; criminal repression of tax evasion and illicit financial flows; protection of whistleblowers; the fight against the embezzlement of public funds and money laundering; the amnesty of nominees and their profit-sharing on condition of self-denunciation.
He promised that "strong measures" would be taken in the days to come after the consultations to reduce the high cost of living.
On the exploitation of natural resources, he gave the assurance that his would receive particular attention from his government.
President Faye said the rights of the investor would always be protected, as well as the interests of the State and the populations.
He said: "Senegal remains an open and welcoming country for all...We will constantly ensure that we maintain and strengthen good neighbourly relations and active solidarity within our community organisations, notably the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)."
President Faye called for cooperation to consolidate the peace, security and stability that are essential for economic and social development.
He reiterated his wish to see the country remain united and indivisible, at peace and in harmony with its national motto: One People, One Goal, One Faith.
"My role, and I intend to play it to the full, is to reach out to everyone, to bring together, reassure, soothe and reconcile, in order to consolidate the peace, security and stability essential to the economic and social development of our beloved country."
He announced that there would be wide-ranging consultations with the political class and civil society on the political, institutional and judicial system to ensure that public governance is more modern, more republican and more respectful of human rights.
Broad consultations would focus on reforming the electoral system, in particular by replacing the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) with an Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
This would involve strengthening CENI's operational resources and prerogatives; rationalising the number of political parties and their funding; and registration of voters and issuing of the national identity card.
He said steps would be taken "to restore the image of justice" by organising conferences that would bring together stakeholders -- magistrates, lawyers, bailiffs, clerks and other court officers as well as university professors and citizens -- to identify solutions to the problems of justice.
President Faye also pledged to preserve the country's way of life of living together, inherited from their ancestors.
"We have only one homeland: Senegal, our common home, which we all love, which does not begin with us, and does not end with us," he said.
-0- PANA MA/JSG/BBA 4April2024
