In Senegal, the controversy surrounding the alleged "hidden debt" continues to roil the public sphere. Since the new authorities brought this sensitive issue into the public eye, the debate has taken on the characteristics of a political battle rather than a search for economic truth. But recent statements by President Macky Sall's lawyer have shaken things up, providing significant clarification: according to him, it is not a hidden debt, but rather a matter of hidden relationships. This crucial distinction considerably alters the nature of the debate.

Attorney Olivier Sur, representing the former Head of State, sought to demonstrate, with supporting documents, that the allegations of concealing public debt have no legal or accounting basis. According to him, all financial commitments made under the

The reports from Macky Sall's administration were recorded in official documents from the Ministry of Finance and transmitted to the relevant institutions, including the IMF. In other words, there is no "hidden" debt, but simply internal reports that everyone is talking about but that are not being made public, despite the public's right to know.

Since this clarification, the uproar seems to have subsided somewhat. And, as if to divert attention, some political figures are now trying to revive the debate surrounding the "Tera Meeting" project, which has been heavily promoted. Yet, the reality is clear: most of the accusations leveled against President Macky Sall's regime now seem to be melting away like butter in the sun.

The examples are numerous. Several former ministers and close associates of the former president have been arrested, sometimes under questionable circumstances. Mansour Faye, Lat Diop, Moustapha Diop, Sophie Gladima, MP Farba Ngom, and other political figures spent months in pretrial detention without any tangible evidence being presented against them. Their only crime seems to be their close ties to Macky Sall, who has become the target of a systematic smear campaign.

The so-called COVID-19 rice affair is a perfect illustration of this. Accused of overbilling, Mansour Faye and his co-defendants were recently cleared of all charges after a thorough review of the case by the investigating judge. The judge concluded that the case was empty and lacked any verifiable evidence. This judicial decision comes as a slap in the face to those who had tried to make this affair a symbol of the supposed "misgovernance" of the previous regime.

These twists and turns raise a fundamental question: can a solid rule of law be built on popular anger rather than on the rigor of the facts? Governing is not about finding scapegoats. Governing is about embracing the complexity of reality, proposing solutions to everyday challenges, and uniting rather than dividing.

The new authorities must understand that a country cannot be governed by resentment or political revenge. The Senegalese people, who yearn for peace and development, expect concrete measures to address the high cost of living, rising unemployment, and declining purchasing power. These are the true national emergencies.

President Macky Sall, whether one likes it or not, has left a solid institutional and economic legacy: modern infrastructure, programs to open up isolated areas, the emergence of regional hubs, and the consolidation of democratic institutions. This legacy deserves not to be erased by partisan squabbles, but to be preserved and enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

Today, the social crisis is profound, and the Senegalese people are suffering. Expectations are immense, frustrations palpable, and trust is eroding as promises fail to materialize. It is in these moments of tension that the greatness of a state and its leaders is truly measured. Governing is not about assigning blame, but about building solutions. What Senegal needs is not a war between factions, but a shared vision, a commitment to uniting all its vital forces around what is essential: the well-being of the people and the stability of the nation.

The new authorities would do well to understand that social peace and national cohesion are not achieved by stigmatizing the old regimes, but through work, fair justice, and the continuity of the state. President Macky Sall has indeed left office, but he has bequeathed a strong country, a resilient economy, and solid institutions. This legacy should be a foundation, not a target for destruction. For a country does not develop by erasing what others have built, but by improving, consolidating, and perfecting it.

The Senegalese people are not looking for settling of scores. They want their children to go to school with dignity, for young people to find work, for prices to be stable, for hospitals to provide care, and for justice to be the same for all. In other words, they want a just, strong, and forward-looking state.

It is time to move beyond pointless squabbles, to put an end to political trials and baseless accusations. It is time to put the Republic back on track, restoring to politics its nobility: that of serving, not destroying. Senegal has always been a model democracy in Africa. Let us preserve this treasure by rejecting the pitfalls of vengeance and manipulation.

Because, in the end, only the truth is revolutionary, only justice is lasting, and only national unity will allow Senegal to face the storms of the present to serenely build a promising future.

Maimouna SENE

Former parliamentarian

APR political leader in Thiès