SENEGAL: Newly elected President Macky Sall celebrates national day with citizens

Record ID: 1962218

  • Title: SENEGAL: Newly elected President Macky Sall celebrates national day with citizens
  • Date: 6th April 2012
  • Summary: DAKAR, SENEGAL (APRIL 4, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (CCTV-NO ACCESS CHINA) SOLDIERS STANDING WITH FLAGS FLAGS FLYING VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS STANDING BEFORE CEREMONY SENEGAL PRESIDENT MACKY SALL STANDING IN CAR'S SUN ROOF SALL AND OFFICIAL WALKING PAST PARADE (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) SENEGAL PRESIDENT MACKY SALL SAYING: "I'd like to congratulate today's celebration. Our army acted with full competence and resolution and they are part of our nation. The event is short, but quite fascinating. I want to convey great congratulations to the celebration on behalf of the Senegalese." SALL AND OFFICIALS WATCHING PARADE VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE AND OFFICIALS SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM AT PARADE OFFICIALS SEATED PROJECTED SCREEN SHOWING PRIME MINISTER ABDOUL AZIZ MBAYE AWARDING MEDALS TO SOLDIERS PRIME MINISTER MBAYE AWARDING MEDALS TO SOLDIER VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ON PARADE/CARRYING FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Wolof) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT SAYING: "I feel very happy today. Macky Sall will bring us many new opportunities." (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT SAYING: "I can say that I've never participated in a celebration quite like this, one that is celebrating independence, and I am very happy." NATIONAL FLAG OF SENEGAL ENTRANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
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  • Location: Senegal, Senegal
  • Country: Senegal
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAEOVNCC0GLJKDNNKQBCQQH9GU0
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Senegal celebrates national day as the newly elected President Macky Sall names his first government.
    Senegal celebrated its 52nd anniversary of independence on Wednesday (April 4), following the inauguration of the country's new president Macky Sall.
    Thousands of people filled Independence Square in Dakar, the capital, where a military parade took place, with saluting guns and a marching band.
    Senegal and French Sudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which signed a transfer of power agreement with France on 4 April 1960.
    The independence day parade came after newly elected Sall, named his first government handing the finance ministry post to former banker Amadou Kane and the culture and tourism ministry post to music star Youssou Ndour, state television reported late on Wednesday.
    The pair are among a host of newcomers to the cabinet, which Sall has trimmed down to 25 posts, from around 40 under his predecessor Abdoulaye Wade.
    "I'd like to congratulate today's celebration. Our army acted with full competence and resolution and they are part of our nation. The event is short, but quite fascinating. I want to convey great congratulations to the celebration on behalf of the Senegalese," Sall said.
    The new government appointments come three days after Sall, a former prime minister under Wade, was sworn in and 24 hours after he named Abdoul Mbaye, a former banker without party affiliation, as the new prime minister.
    Mbaye, upon his swearing in as prime minister, conferred honorary medals to some soldiers.
    In his first speech to the nation since taking office, Sall pledged on Tuesday (April 3) to restore transparency and good governance to Senegal, where critics say corruption was allowed to take hold under Wade.
    A Dakar resident welcomed Sall as their new leader.
    "I feel very happy today. Macky Sall will bring us many new opportunities," and unnamed resident told CCTV.
    "I can say that I've never participated in a celebration quite like this, one that is celebrating independence, and I am very happy," another resident said.
    Sall, 50, ran for a seven-year mandate but has pledged to reduce the presidential term to five years and to stick to an existing two-term limit.
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