Senegal marks 62 years of independence

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Senegal on Monday marked 62 years since it gained independence from France.

In a televised address to the nation, Senegal's President Macky Sall said there is a need for individual and collective efforts to overcome food insecurity in the country.

“Independence is not an isolated act of a day, but a permanent struggle which also includes people’s liberation in terms of food security. This adds to national freedom. We have to produce what we consume and consume what we produce,” Sall said.

“Faced with the high risk of shortages and soaring prices due to the global crisis, I call for a general mobilization to increase and enhance the value of our agricultural, livestock and fisheries products,” he said.

Sall said the government has increased investments in the modernization and diversification of the livestock, fisheries and agriculture sectors.

“For the second time in a row, the budget for agriculture has been revised upwards, from 60 to 70 billion CFA francs (about $117million) this year. The state has also lowered the prices of basic commodities, including rice, sugar and oil; and increased the subsidy for local rice to provide relief to households,” he added.

Sall also voiced support to the country’s army “deployed in the service of peace in the world, and in operations for the defense of territorial integrity, the fight against cross-border crime and the plundering of our natural resources.”

On the eve of the Independence Day, the president granted a presidential pardon to 824 people who were detained on various charges.