When will the real development “PROJECT” be for the Senegalese? Since the arrival of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the population is still waiting for real changes. The Party of African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) had made many promises. Promises which pushed 54% of voters to vote for the ruling party. But for nine (9) months, things are stuck everywhere!
On March 14, 2024, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was still a prisoner at Cap Manuel. Monday March 25, the day after the election and at the end of an unpredictable scenario, marked by a political and institutional crisis, a lightning electoral campaign and, finally, the recognition of his victory by his main opponent, here he is a free man. Free man who will be the fifth President of the Republic. A first round election after he obtained more than 54% of the votes.
“I congratulate the winner, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, that the trends are a winner. It is the victory of Senegalese democracy,” responded Macky Sall, who left the country hastily on April 2 of the same year. If the Senegalese have made this choice, it is to have a change at all levels. Unfortunately, they continue to wait. The long-awaited miracle solutions are still not there. And the Senegalese continue to suffer martyrdom. Food prices are only going up even though the new regime had announced a drop in prices.
Reduction, which probably still is not effective. According to the latest data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), consumer prices increased by 0.9% in September 2024 compared to the previous month. This increase mainly results from the increase in the prices of food products and non-alcoholic drinks (+1.5%), miscellaneous goods and services (+0.4%), as well as services related to housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels (+0.3%). If this monthly change is significant, inflation remains lower than that of the previous year, with a drop of 0.6% compared to September 2023
“The bag of sugar is sold at 29,500 CFA francs, with a risk of reaching 31,000 CFA francs, if action is not taken quickly. Likewise, oil (20 liter can) is currently sold between 21,500 and 22,000 CFA francs, which makes it difficult to respect the approved prices. These increases directly impact the purchasing power of consumers and the viability of merchants,” revealed the National Federation of Shops for Modernization (Fnbm).
-In the third quarter of 2024, the turnover achieved in the construction sector fell by 12.5% compared to that achieved in the same quarter of 2023. This development, according to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography ( ANSD) is mainly attributable to the decrease in turnover in the civil engineering sub-sector (-21.1%) and building construction (-11.1%). On the other hand, this decline is attenuated by the 4.9% jump in turnover from specialized construction activities.
Cumulatively over the first three quarters of 2024, the turnover achieved in the construction sector increased by 1.2%, compared to the corresponding period of 2023, mainly driven by specialized construction activities. The measures taken by the new regime are one of the primary causes. The new government has decided to clean up the land sector.
To make matters worse, security continues to be a real headache for the Senegalese. Despite the numerous security operations, insecurity is still there. The Riu Baobab hotel reception, located on the Pointe Sarene site in Mbour, suffered an armed attack on the night of Saturday January 18, 2025. The criminals managed to take away 12,100,000 CFA francs. Despite the establishment being cordoned off by the gendarmes, they managed to escape by cutting the barbed wire and taking refuge in the neighboring forest.
It is important for a State to reduce the price of basic necessities, but it is even more essential to strengthen the purchasing power of consumers. It is time for the regime to find short-term solutions to the plight of the Senegalese people. The new authorities must be careful not to awaken dormant anger among the populations.
Aliou Niakaar Ngom for news.sn
