Action for Human Rights and Friendship (ADHA) congratulates the Senegalese people for their maturity during the recent legislative elections.
ADHA also congratulates the victorious coalition and calls on the new regime to honor the trust placed in it.
Indeed, the time is no longer for speeches, but for immediate and tangible action to respond to the pressing concerns of the nation.
The fight against migration, a national imperative.
Irregular migration remains a major problem, revealing a deep malaise linked to socio-economic precariousness. ADHA urges the authorities to adopt an innovative approach, which addresses the structural causes of this phenomenon rather than just its manifestations.
Aware of this repressive policy of most European countries, like Italy, for example, which blocks migrants by all means while not respecting human rights. Indeed, the reduction in arrivals to 40,660 migrants between January and August 2024, compared to 114,000 in 2023, was obtained by repressive policies, criticized for their human impact.
Unlike Spain, the destination country for the majority of canoes which leave the Senegalese, Mauritanian and Gambian coasts, despite the surveillance of these coasts, from January 1 to October 31, 2024, 44,856 migrants landed in the Canary Islands by canoe unlike in 2023 at this same period when they numbered 42,989, official figures from the Spanish authorities.
In Senegal, previous circular migration agreements with Spain, although ambitious, revealed serious inadequacies:
• Lack of monitoring of migrant workers, often left to their own devices in host countries.
• Opaque management of funds allocated by international partners, like the 128 million euros in public development aid from the European Union.
These deficiencies must be corrected to restore citizen confidence and ensure responsible management of these programs.
Changing the paradigm: local and inclusive solutions
Rather than just exporting labor, ADHA calls for strong local initiatives, including:
• The creation of sustainable jobs in strategic sectors such as agriculture, industry and renewable energies.
• Strengthening the capacities of young people through adapted training and support for entrepreneurship.
• Increased involvement of local authorities to develop solutions anchored in the realities of the territories.
Advocacy for exemplary governance
ADHA invites the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, to place transparency and accountability at the heart of his mandate.
A complete review of programs linked to circular migration is essential to eliminate the uncertainties that taint their implementation. Without forgetting to do an audit on the trust funds from 2005 to the present.
The Senegalese people expect concrete actions and a break with past practices.
ADHA reiterates its commitment to working for dignified and responsible migration, while encouraging inclusive dialogue between the State and citizens.
Finally, ADHA stands ready to support the smooth running of the country through suggestions and contributions with a view to improving the daily lives of the Senegalese.
