A few days after the deadly sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Mauritania, while they were trying to reach the Spanish coast of the Canaries, the Prime Minister of Senegal launched an appeal. The future of the world is in Africa “, declared Ousmane Sonko in an open-air speech.
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” Yet another shipwreck has occurred off our coasts and which, while waiting to have the exact figures, would have cost the lives of many young people. “, said Ousmane Sonko during a speech at Gaston Berger University in Saint Louis (north) broadcast on his Facebook page. And he made a vibrant appeal.
” I am once again appealing to these young people, your solution is not to be found in offices, the countries that some young people want to go to, I can assure you that they themselves are in crisis, or at the beginning of a crisis!
The future of the world is in Africa and you Jesus must be aware of this. The only continent that still has a significant margin for progress and growth, the only continent that should carry the growth of the world in the next 50 years. This continent is Africa.
The debate is simple: will this growth of Africa be done by others and without Africans or will it be done by Africans, mainly, and incidentally, those who come to invest, will also have the right to come?
The answer we have given is very clear, no one will do our development for us. We will no longer accept that our natural resources are plundered to leave us with poverty and unemployment that will push you young people to leave.… »
Following the sinking of a boat heading towards the European coast earlier this week, three Senegalese NGOs signed a joint statement calling on the authorities in Dakar to react. In the text, they demand that the government take action to prevent the departure of young people, in particular by offering them better opportunities.
In this shipwreck, nearly 90 people died off the coast of Mauritania. The boat had left Niodior, on the border between Senegal and Gambia, with 170 passengers on board, trying to reach the Spanish coast of the Canaries. Among the survivors was a 5-year-old girl.
Read alsoSenegal: After another migrant boat sinking, NGOs call on the government to act
The Senegalese Navy is increasing the number of pirogues intercepted and the rescue of migrants in distress. This week, it reported intercepting a pirogue with 74 would-be migrants, including 20 children. In June, its patrol boats intercepted more than 470 people during four operations, according to information published on its social networks.
The Atlantic route is particularly dangerous because of its strong currents and because migrants travel on overloaded boats, sometimes unseaworthy, and often lacking drinking water. But it is increasingly used because of the increased surveillance in the Mediterranean by young people looking for a better future in Europe.
Also listen toSenegal: how to stop irregular emigration?