At the opening of the RenewPac Summit, the Senegalese President, Macky Sall, paid tribute to his predecessor at the head of the country, Abdoulaye Wade, whom he described as the «father of African liberalism». Me Abdoulaye Wade (97), headed Senegal from 2000 to 2012 following the first alternation in Senegal. In 1974, he created the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) which brought him to power after 26 years of opposition.
Macky Sall, leader of the Alliance for the Republic (Apr), was himself, for ten years, a senior official of this party and a leading figure in the regime of Abdoulaye Wade whose Prime Minister he was after having held various ministerial positions. “He inspired us with the values of liberalism at a time when Marxist ideologies were on the rise in Africa. He dared to row against the current. Myself and many of the personalities who participate in this Summit are his heirs,” said the Senegalese President in tribute to his former mentor, under the warm applause of the room.
The message of (Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, President of the African Liberal Network)
This summit demonstrates the need for a strong and lasting partnership between Europe and Africa based on mutual respect, shared values and well-understood common interests.”
