INTERVIEW - The president of Senegal, Macky Sall, Barack Obama will Wednesday in Dakar. The black continent, the head of the White House, the Kenyan father, has so far visited the Ghana. Extracts.Sixteen months after his election, the successor of Senghor, Diouf and Wade returned to the terrorist issue in the Sahel, the future of neighboring Mali and end of life of Mandela. He received the JDD in London this week on the sidelines of the G8 summit.
Why Barack Obama he chose Senegal, speaking countries as a first step of his African tour?The U.S. ambassador in Dakar in March called me to tell me that would be the case. During my previous visit in March in Washington, I had asked but I do not think it would come so quickly. I am honored and delighted. This is an encouraging sign for Senegal to continue its consolidation of the rule of law and democracy, one of the channels through which Barack Obama wants to build its relationship with Africa. Senegal has always been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy. In 2012 (election in which President Wade was seeking a third term) the will of the Senegalese people to stay in the democratic process was crucial.What words will you welcome Obama?I tell him "Dalal Ak Dia", "welcome home in peace!"The African policy of the United States has long favored the "trade" (trade) on the "aid" (grants and subsidies). This is how you see things?Yes, because anyway the ODA is increasingly difficult to mobilize, especially in these times of fiscal austerity. But trade, it also means investment and partnership. But Africa needs investment to exploit its tremendous economic potential handicapped by poor infrastructure. Everyone's interest to get started, whether America, Europe and Asia.
The Afro-pessimism, it's over?Ten years ago, it was in full swing, the clichés of humanitarian disasters and ethnic conflicts. But during those ten years, there has also been a considerable leap of growth, real average 5 or 6% on the entire continent with peaks at 8 or 9% that promise to last. We are 800 million, nearly a billion consumers with a middle class that will be a good third of the population by 2050, it is a tremendously growing market should not see each country but at the regional level. Senegal, for example, is the gateway to ECOWAS, 300 million people."I can not thank France for its commitment to Mali"What has changed since you arrived in Senegal in power? There was a lot of impatience and it is far from being satisfied on the economic and social ...You can not earn positive results in just one year. But the rule of law remains a reality by strengthening laws against impunity and for better fiscal transparency. On the economic front, more resources are allocated to the agricultural sector. This year, I also lowered the income tax of employees and the price of some commodities such as rice, sugar and oil for the most vulnerable groups.Is the Sahel, six months after the beginning of the Serval operation, the hardest part was accomplished?I can not thank France for its commitment to Mali. Otherwise, terrorism would have hands on a state from which it would have continued to expand. Thanks to God and to this intervention, the terrorist apparatus that would destabilize the entire Sahel region has been deregulated. The hardest part was done. Terrorists have kept capacity to blow a bomb here and there but these are risks that we must learn to live.What makes that Senegal is not immune to the threat of terrorism?Senegal shares with other countries of the Sahel the same people and the same porous borders because our regional agreements provide for free movement. A Malian who wants to come to Senegal did not need a visa, which complicates the task of our intelligence and as some of our compatriots were recruited by terrorists, it becomes difficult."We monitored the activity of certain preachers in the north"Your interior minister even talked about sleeper cells even spoke of "sleeper cells" in Senegal ...This is what he said at the beginning of the operation when Serval Senegal, who went to Gao was arrested. We thought he should not be alone. That is why all the countries of the region, including Senegal, are very careful.Can you confirm that there has been in recent months attempted terrorist infiltration in Dakar, especially from the French military base?Not. But it is true that we monitored the activity of certain preachers in the north.This makes it part of an attempt to Islamization by Salafi groups in this northern region, between St. Louis and the border?No, I myself come from the northern region and our Sufi Islam is built on nine centuries of the brotherhoods. It is a peace that Islam has nothing to do with jihadism. But with the crisis and the growing role of drug traffickers, it is easier to enter the population. Nevertheless, Islamic brotherhood is a guarantee of stability, and I spoke to the religious leaders, I pledge to defend the Senegalese Islamic model, a model of tolerance and cohabitation with intelligent small Christian minority.Is that France was right to impose the date of 28 July for the presidential election in Mali?I reject the term "impose". The election was ardently desired because they can not afford to continue to deal with the political reconstruction of Mali if that country has illegitimate institutions. Tuareg issue can not be resolved with transitional governments but with elected for five years to take the fight for national unity on the duration authority."I pray for Mandela and I would like him to finish his own century up to 100 years!"The United Nations is holding a conference next week in Yaounde on maritime piracy and the fight against trafficking in West Africa. Why the states of this region are so powerless against narco?You touch the finger weakness of our continent. We demand a lot and it is true that the primary purpose of a state is to secure its territory to defend its sovereignty. But when you have children to feed every day, even high demographic rates, challenges in terms of public health and infrastructure, our priorities are social emergencies. I would add that the IMF and the World Bank have asked us for years not to inject resources in security and arms expenditures in favor of social programs. So Africa is weak in terms of security. Do we really afford to build fighter planes? We are so vulnerable and we must try to defend themselves. Mali has shown that without security there can be no development. Why we agree with the holding of the next Africa-France summit in December on the theme of security.But traffickers benefit from complicity to the same within the state apparatus ...Yes, this is the case in one of our neighboring countries where the administration is paralyzed. We are all at risk from this point of view, especially as we are the territories of transit. The fight must be conducted at the international level that we coordinate better.A word about Nelson Mandela. What comes to mind when you think of it?Mandela is a fantastic story. This is an exceptional person who has gone through nearly a century. He devoted his life to the cause of black but has forgiven. For us leaders of Africa, it is a model of humility. He could extend his presidency with a second or third term. He preferred to go without interfering in succession. If humanity to pray for him, it is because it is a living legend. I have not had the chance to meet him personally. He came to Senegal while I was away and when I went to Soweto, it was missed. This means my regret. But I am inspired by his philosophy. He himself said he was not "an angel." It is this humility that makes it great. I pray for him and I wish he would finish his own century up to 100 years!(Source Jdd)
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