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the supervisory ministry challenged in a letter

Open letter
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Madam Minister,
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture

Subject: Situation of the National Youth Council of Senegal

Madam Minister,

Through this open letter, it seems essential to me to draw your attention to the worrying situation of the National Youth Council of Senegal (CNJS), an important institution for the supervision and promotion of young people within our country. The CNJS, which brings together around seventeen thousand associations and national youth movements, constitutes an apolitical platform present in all local authorities. Its mission aims to stimulate a dynamic of socio-economic development, by integrating the concerns and aspirations of young Senegalese.

It should be remembered that the current team of the CNJS was elected for a three-year term, a period which initially extended from 2016 to 2019. To date, this body has remained in office for almost nine years without renewal, a situation which constitutes a clear violation of the texts governing our organization. It is imperative that your ministry recognizes the importance of this unifying framework of youth organizations, instead of minimizing its role to the detriment of the interests of national youth.

The choice of the last representative of the CNJS to the CNRA blatantly illustrates a lack of understanding of the operating mechanisms of our institution. No association, whether affiliated with your political camp or not, can legally claim to represent Senegalese youth. Therefore, it is your responsibility, Madam Minister, to trigger the process of democratic renewal of the bodies of the CNJS, in consultation with the stakeholders.

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I would also like to recall the example of your counterpart from Burkina Faso, who recently took courageous steps by suspending his country’s National Youth Council, in order to allow democratic elections to take place. Such an initiative demonstrates the desire to strengthen youth authorities, and could serve as a model for our own country.

Madam Minister, a strong and legitimate CNJS could prove to be a valuable asset for the effective implementation of your youth policy. It is therefore crucial to act quickly to guarantee renewal which not only respects the texts in force, but which also revitalizes the engagement of young people in national development.

Please accept, Madam Minister, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Bassirou Samb
President of the Youth Council of the Parcelles Assainies District
Member of the Executive Committee of the CNJS

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