During a recent tour across France, Alioune Sarr, President of the Alliance pour le Sénégal (APS/ANS), engaged directly with the Senegalese diaspora to outline a bold vision for the nation’s future—one rooted in decentralized growth, collective responsibility, and economic sovereignty. From Paris to Creil, his message resonated with local communities, highlighting the urgent need to shift from a centralized model to one that empowers every region of Senegal.
The journey began in the French capital, where Sarr met with Senegalese families and community leaders in Paris’s 20th arrondissement and the Parisian suburb of Massy. These discussions weren’t just about listening—they were about co-creating solutions. Attendees shared their concerns about national challenges, while Sarr outlined a roadmap for how the diaspora could play a pivotal role in driving development back home. The focus? Turning remittances and ideas into tangible investments in infrastructure, education, and local industries.
A chorus of support in Creil
In Creil, a city in the Hauts-de-France region, the turnout was overwhelming. Amy Faye, the APS’s political coordinator in France, led the session, rallying Senegalese residents, entrepreneurs, students, and activists around Sarr’s proposals. The energy in the room reflected a shared ambition: to transform Senegal into a nation where every territory thrives, not just the capital.
« The diaspora is not just a source of financial support—it’s an open ministry of development, » Sarr told the crowd. « Your skills, networks, and capital are the building blocks of a new Senegal. » The attendees, ranging from small business owners to university students, expressed enthusiasm for initiatives that prioritize local production, job creation, and territorial autonomy. Many saw this as a departure from decades of policies that sidelined regions outside Dakar.
Rethinking Dakar’s role: a partnership with the territories
One of the tour’s central themes was dismantling the false dichotomy between Dakar and Senegal’s other regions. Sarr argued that the capital, while vital, cannot—and should not—be the sole engine of growth. « Dakar is the heart of Senegal, but the territories are its lungs, » he explained. « No nation can thrive on one lung alone. »
He pointed to Notto Diobasse Smart City as a blueprint for this new approach. The project, which integrates industrial zones, training centers, and sustainable infrastructure, demonstrates how local initiatives can serve as catalysts for national progress. « Senegal’s development won’t flow from Dakar to the regions—it will rise from the regions to Dakar, » Sarr asserted. This philosophy calls for a radical reimagining of governance, where decisions are made closer to the people they affect.
Land as a springboard, not a commodity
Sarr also tackled a contentious issue: land use. He criticized the long-standing practice of selling undeveloped land, comparing it to exporting raw materials. « A hectare isn’t valuable because it’s sold—it’s valuable because it’s developed, » he said. « Nations that thrive don’t sell their resources; they transform them. » This stance aligns with his broader argument for a shift toward productive land use, where agriculture, industrialization, and innovation create jobs and wealth.
The tour underscored a simple truth: Senegal’s future depends on its ability to harness the potential of every region and every citizen, whether at home or abroad. Sarr’s call for a « new national pact »—anchored in strong territories, an engaged diaspora, and economic sovereignty—resonated deeply with those who attended. As he concluded in Creil, « We didn’t come to manage the future. We came to build it. »
