From the streets of Paris to the suburbs of Massy and Creil, Alioune Sarr, the President of the Alliance pour le Sénégal (APS/ANS), is currently engaging the diaspora. His mission is to forge a new partnership centered on territorial development, the contribution of Senegalese living abroad, and national sovereignty.

As part of this European tour, Alioune Sarr has been meeting directly with compatriots in their homes and community centers. He visited the Foyer Les Mûriers in the 20th arrondissement of Paris and traveled to Massy in the Essonne department. These face-to-face discussions focused on the various challenges facing Sénégal, the specific expectations of the diaspora, and the untapped potential within the country’s diverse regions.

These interactions provided the APS leader with a firsthand look at the concerns of the community in France. It also served as a platform for citizens to offer concrete suggestions on how to boost the economic, social, and territorial advancement of Sénégal.

Significant momentum in Creil

The tour reached a high point in Creil, located in the Oise department of the Hauts-de-France region. A large number of Senegalese residents gathered to support the vision of the Alliance pour le Sénégal. The event was organized by Amy Faye, the party’s political head in France, who brought together residents from Creil and surrounding areas to discuss the strategic goals set by Alioune Sarr.

During the gathering, Amy Faye praised Sarr’s dedication to the diaspora, emphasizing that those living abroad must be central players in building the Sénégal of tomorrow. The audience, which included association leaders, students, entrepreneurs, and families, showed a deep interest in proposals regarding local investment and economic independence.

A call for political maturity

Throughout his tour, Alioune Sarr has consistently argued that Sénégal requires a governance model rooted in dialogue and collective responsibility. He maintains that national development must transcend partisan divides. “We can be political opponents without becoming enemies of the Republic,” he stated, urging all political figures to prioritize national interest and economic progress over personal positioning.

Moving beyond the centralized model

A central theme of Sarr’s message is the urgent need to decentralize public policy. He argues that decades of focusing power and investment in a few urban centers have reached their limit. “When everything is decided at the center, the territories wait. When the territories decide and act, the country moves forward,” he explained. He believes Sénégal must empower its local authorities to foster a more balanced and inclusive growth pattern.

Dakar and the regions: A shared ambition

Alioune Sarr rejects the idea of a rivalry between the capital and the rest of the country. Instead, he promotes a vision of regional synergy. “Dakar is the heart of Sénégal, but the territories are its lungs. No country can breathe fully with only one lung,” he remarked. He stressed that sustainable development is only possible if every region is capable of harnessing its own resources, creating local jobs, and attracting investment.

The Notto Diobasse Smart City blueprint

To illustrate the potential of regional transformation, Sarr pointed to the Notto Diobasse Smart City project. He views this initiative as a template for creating territorial hubs focused on production, innovation, and industrialization. In his view, development should flow from the territories toward Dakar, rather than the other way around, making every region a driver of national wealth.

Land as a strategic asset

Addressing the issue of land management, Alioune Sarr insisted that land should be treated as strategic capital for future generations. “An acre has no value simply because it is sold; it has value because it is developed,” he argued. He compared selling undeveloped land to exporting raw materials, advocating instead for a model that prioritizes local transformation to create jobs. “Rich nations do not sell their resources; they transform them,” he added, noting that developing the land is the only way to build a sustainable future.

The diaspora as a development partner

The APS President highlighted that the diaspora should not be viewed merely as a source of remittances. “The Diaspora is not an ATM; it is an open-air ministry of development,” he declared. He called on Senegalese living abroad to become active investors and builders in their home regions.

A new national pact

Concluding his tour, Alioune Sarr called for a national agreement built on three essential pillars:

• Strong and empowered territories;
• A fully mobilized diaspora;
• Assertive economic sovereignty.

The strong turnout in Paris, Massy, and Creil reflects a growing desire among the diaspora to participate in Sénégal’s transformation. As he finished his visit, Sarr noted: “We did not come to manage the future; we came to build it.”