The graduation ceremony for the 45th class of the National School for Active Duty Officers (ENOA) was held this Friday, December 12th, in Thiès. This class, which entered ENOA on October 8, 2025, is composed of 137 officer cadets, including six women. It comprises 118 Senegalese and 19 officer cadets from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Chad, and Togo.

During the flag presentation ceremony, Colonel Samba Fall, commander of the ENOA (National School for Non-Commissioned Officers) in Thiès, delivered a patriotic and impassioned speech. "Once again, as is customary, we gather in this emblematic courtyard to observe a tradition whose symbolism encapsulates the very essence of the patriotic commitment of young people from several African nations who have chosen to belong to the community of those who have chosen death rather than dishonor. I give thanks to the Almighty who, through His mercy and blessings, has allowed us to guide this graduating class during this first stage of their career, marked by the presentation of the flag," said Colonel Samba Fall.

The commander added: "This moment compels me to solemnly thank the colonel commanding military zone No. 7 for his constant support, but above all for the honor he bestows upon us by agreeing to preside over this ceremony."

He continued: "For 90 days, these young people, who come from across the entire recruitment spectrum of the armed forces (national gendarmerie, air force, navy and army), were put to the test of suffering, commitment, humility, but above all, honor. The aim was to instill in them the soul of the soldier, made of deprivation and self-sacrifice, in order to allow them to fully grasp the extent of their voluntary commitment to serve under the flag as future leaders."

Addressing the graduates, Colonel Fall said: "Dear officers of the 45th graduating class, this flag before you, flying in all its splendor, recounts the history of an entire school and, beyond that, of an entire army and an entire nation. You now bear the weighty responsibility of defending it at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances, even at the risk of your lives. This flag is always carried by the valedictorian of your predecessors, so full of grandeur and prestige, always flanked by a guard. It is the Republic and its protectors, of which you are now a part. This flag before you is the national emblem. To defy it, to desecrate it, is to attack the honor of every Senegalese."

These officer cadets are now part of that select class of citizens who are heirs to a tradition in which a man needed only a horse, a rifle and a kola nut to go and die for honor... as the poet-president Léopold Sédar Senghor said.

"You are joining the armed forces in a complex operational and professional context where only your ability to adapt will allow you to maintain balance and thrive in a profession as demanding as it is exhilarating. This gives you an idea of the immensity of the task that awaits you. Be armed with unwavering morale, because you will be asked to go beyond what you believe to be your limits. The ultimate goal of the nation's investment in your military education is nothing less than to serve the Republic to the ultimate sacrifice," he declared.

He emphasized that defending the homeland is a mission that cannot tolerate any compromise or capitulation. It involves exercising independence through its human resources and military capabilities. And no nation would allow itself to outsource this responsibility.

"We are committed to making you valuable, resilient officers whom the commander can rely on to face the many challenges that await us. For now, you can legitimately feel proud to truly join the ENOA."

Colonel Samba Fall finally addressed the parents of these officer cadets: "Dear parents, your daughters and sons have chosen one of the noblest professions. It is demanding, but it is well within their reach. Your support, the foundation you will continue to cultivate in them of moral values, faith, and hard work, will certainly help them succeed. Be proud of them. They have been brave and worthy of their heritage."