If the party of African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) has reached this point today, it is thanks to people who made the sacrifice. Among them, Senegalese youth. Young people are the main supporters of Ousmane Sonko’s “PROJECT”. Since the chief patriot entered politics, young people have given him everything (life, money and voice). Sonko had what many politicians could not have. He has built up a great army thanks to young people. Now that he is in power, it is time for him to give back to young people what they expect of him.
Even if Bassirou Diomaye Faye is the fifth president, many young people see Ousmane Sonko as a head of state. Within Pastef, Sonko is respectively called “President” even though he is the Prime Minister. Political analysts are unanimous in saying that the leader of Pastef is the architect, artist, designer, creator and founder of the “PROJECT” of Pastef-Les Patriotes. A great feat that the current head of government has achieved thanks to committed young people at his side. Something that the chief patriot is not unaware of.
If young people bet on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, they had their reasons. This youth is poor and orphaned. Reason why they voted overwhelmingly for this change. Eight (8) months later, they are still strangled by unemployment. Which explains the numerous departures for Europe. Not a single day goes by without the Navy arresting candidates for illegal emigration. Young people fleeing the poverty of their country of origin.
This situation pushed the Prime Minister to launch an appeal to young people after a shipwreck off the coast of Mauritania. “I appeal again to these young people, your solution is not found in the offices, the countries that some young people want to join, I can assure you that they themselves are either in crisis, or at the start of a crisis! The future of the world lies in Africa and you young people must be aware of this. The only continent that still has significant room for progress and growth, the only continent that should drive world growth in the next 50 years. This continent is Africa», he reacted.
This youth is strangled by social problems and unemployment. In images circulating on social networks (see video), we see young people fighting to submit their applications for job offers launched at the Port of Ndayane. These images send shivers down your spine. They demonstrate how much young people want to work. They are signs that young people no longer want to be on neighborhood corners to serve the cause of politicians. They have already given everything. And now they are waiting for the reward for the efforts made after so many years.
The only gift the regime owes them is to resolve this situation. Which means keeping your campaign promises. To respect his promises, we must first resolve the issue of unemployment. Creating jobs for these young people is the gift that young people are waiting for. The Prime Minister, Sonko and his government must do everything possible to give work to these great defenders who are young people. That’s the only thing they ask for. Everything else is optional for these “PROJECT” carriers. The Sonko-Diomaye duo must not kill this hope.
According to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), young people aged 15 to 24 who are neither in employment, education nor training represent 34.4% of this age group. This rate is higher in rural areas (43.8%) than in urban areas (27.5%), and affects young women (43.0%) more than young men (25.9%). The employment rate in Senegal in the first quarter of 2024 stands at 40.0%, with an unequal distribution between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, the employment rate is 44.3%, while it is 33.6% in rural areas. Men record a higher employment rate (53.3%) compared to women (27.1%).
But the task is not easy. All successive regimes have failed on this issue. Macky Sall implemented all kinds of projects but he was not able to resolve the issue of unemployment. So it remains to be seen how Ousmane Sonko will go about providing solutions. Failure will be fatal at all levels!
Aliou Niakaar Ngom for news.sn
