Paul Melly, journaliste britannique : « Au Sénégal, tout est urgence »
In Senegal, the social front rarely finds respite. The political tensions that previously dominated the scene have given way to a much deeper crisis that is eroding the social contract: the youth and their economic future. Its consequences are felt even within the walls of universities, where the issue of student scholarships remains the most volatile point of contention for the country.
Moreover, the tragic death of student Abdoulaye Ba has fueled public debate in recent days, brutally reminding us that in Senegal, "everything is an emergency." This is the opinion of British journalist Paul Melly. A guest on the program "Objection" this Sunday on Sud FM, he offered a dispassionate diagnosis of this Senegalese problem (the issue of student grants).
He concedes, like everyone else, that scholarships extend far beyond the academic sphere. Indeed, for many, they represent a means of family subsistence. "The proportion of people who go to university remains a minority, but scholarships continue to be a point of contention in the relationship between the state and students. At the same time, there are other young Senegalese who also have their own problems. This shows you that everything has become a priority in Senegal," he explains.
Based on this observation, he argues that the unease doesn't stop at the gates of UCAD's faculties. For the researcher at Chatham House, the heart of the problem lies in the inability of the current economic model to generate tangible hope for both students and those who don't attend lectures.
"It is very difficult for the State to respond to the aspirations of the people if it fails to create an economic model that generates jobs, opportunities for hope and opportunities for access to land," the expert points out.
Therefore, he believes, without economic diversification that generates income and jobs, and a profound reform of access to land, among other things, migratory pressure and the feeling of exclusion will continue to grow among young people.
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