The Day of May 29, the birthday of the one who is affectionately Professor - President, is for the young people of my generation a historic occasion to commemorate the contribution of an exceptional man, an emblematic political figure and a Servant coupled with unparalleled pan-Africanism and humanism.

A militant for several causes (Democracy and Freedom, Anti-apartheid, Parity, social justice, Pan-Africanism, women's emancipation etcetera), the one who is considered the father of democracy and freedoms in Africa, President Abdoulaye Wade is today an icon, a Role Model and a source of inspiration and not of contemplation which some want to reduce him.

Man is above contemplation. He has been, remains, and always will be subject, object, and actor of history. He also carries a pedagogy that we must study, understand, develop, question, transmit, and above all, use as a source of healthy emulation and inspiration to build the best version(s) of ourselves, our dreams, and our legitimate aspirations.

The man was involved in all the struggles, he was the main figure bearing hope and the torch of Freedom and Democracy in Africa for decades at a time when choosing to fight for future generations was not easy or daring in Africa.

He was a dedicated patriot, conveying the fervor of intelligent patriotism whenever Senegal needed to fight. He championed Pan-Africanism whenever Africa should have its voice heard on international issues. He was, and remains, a humanist and philanthropist at heart.

During the day of commemoration of the birthday of a man of this stature, I am among those who always think and theorize about the educational, historical value and the lessons to be learned from the work and life of such a man.

The work of Abdoulaye Wade is a militant, committed, selfless, and universal work. It is also a work that invites reflection in order to draw lessons that will inspire present and future generations.

Questioning and drawing inspiration from one's own journey has meaning. This meaning must be grasped or betrayed. It's like a duty, a mission to each generation.

Each citizen could be called upon to symbolically dedicate 100 minutes of their time (reference to his 100 years) to a work, a cause in service of the community, in memory of the hundred years that President Abdoulaye Wade devoted to the many causes and struggles for Senegal, Africa and all of humanity.

The purpose of this contribution is to challenge young people, older people, and all those aspiring to roles of Servant on our duty towards all those who have gone before us in this long, difficult, and noble human endeavor that is political engagement in the service of humanity.

What lessons should we draw from the man's journey, struggles, successes, and supposed failures? Does drawing inspiration from the role model Abdoulaye Wade mean doing better, more, or less than him?

When I see this new generation of emerging young leaders in Senegal and Africa, a generation that emerged from the inner workings of the Senegalese Democratic Party, which he founded before I was even born, when I see President Ousmane Sonko setting an example in political practice,

when I see those to whom he gave everything and who have betrayed his work and his legacy (Macky Sall, Idrissa Seck, Oumar SARR, Ousmane Ngom, axis of counter-values and deviousness) to name only these party leaders whose only merit in the rise of their political or professional career is summed up in the trust of an immensely generous and visionary man.

Abdoulaye Wade belongs to that breed of men who believe that the talent and dignity in every son of "Badola" should blossom and be revealed, fostering healthy and positive competition within the community. Yes! The word is indeed appropriate. Abdoulaye Wade created all those who, today, are diametrically opposed to the very reasons for his political commitment.

Under Wade's regime, everyone imagined they could succeed, even becoming president, minister, lawyer, professor, master tailor, or master mason. In short, he had succeeded in planting the seed of ambition in every Senegalese or African, the belief that they could rely on their talents to build the best version of themselves. He wanted to create healthy competition around success stories within less fortunate communities.

Under Macky Sall, every worthy Senegalese imagined themselves in prison or in exile to realize their most legitimate dream.

It is also this facet of Master Wade that we must analyze to extract its educational value. We should never have discovered the true faces of this Macky-Idy axis. Nor should we have ever discovered this new generation of political leaders who, deep down, would never have thought of engaging in politics.

When I see Ousmane Sonko, a political leader highly regarded by Senegalese and Africans, cite Maitre Wade on several occasions as a model of patriotism and pan-Africanism, or recall "His long political struggle marked in particular by his entry into the National Assembly in 1978 and especially by the historic change of power in March 2000. Abdoulaye Wade is, unquestionably, one of the most illustrious fathers of Senegalese democracy."

On a more personal note, the political leader reflected on his relationship with the former head of state, mentioning "his magnanimity" and the gestures of trust he said he received from him in 2017 and then in 2019.

“President Wade placed a gesture in my path that only great men know how to make: the gesture of passing on his legacy. Not the transfer of power, but the rarer one of trust,” he testified. Ousmane Sonko concluded by offering prayers for the man he affectionately calls “his grandfather,” saying, “May Allah place him under His eternal protection. And may Senegal continue, as he always believed, to work, to embrace modernity while preserving its core values.”

 

When I see young people of my generation from here and from the diaspora who had never thought of doing politics coming back to take the path of politics, a path strewn with pitfalls and ambushes with a NEW POLITICAL PRACTICE marked by exemplary conduct.

When I see all this renewal carried by a new generation which, in one way or another, is inspired by the complex and controversial work and exceptional journey of the man, when we see all this unfolding, we can only rejoice, question and say that the man has succeeded in his mission.

He pushed his compatriots, which we are, to the limits of our collective capacity to never give in to the struggle for the conquests of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

He showed us that Senegal is more precious than our personal destinies. He showed us that only the struggle in service of just causes liberates and grants dignity.

He also showed us the benefits of forgiveness when one is a holder of public force or public power. A lesson never learned by his successor Macky Sall.

Man's pedagogy has always been to build from nothing, to build dreams and to nurture and bring forth talents around him.

Today we have others who have chosen to destroy the best among us, to shatter careers, dreams, and to diminish us.

Commemorating the anniversary means questioning the vitality of this renewal with the different possible narratives.

Furthermore, we must also examine how we celebrate the anniversary and legacy of such a man. Young and old, men and women from rural areas and cities alike, everywhere and everyone, can do good for their fellow human beings and for the planet. The paradigm, "Sopi"—a word that resonated early on with many of us and aims to engage the entire Senegalese family in mobilizing to build change, for a more peaceful, sustainable, and equitable country—must be a guiding principle on this day.

“Sopi Jïko Yi, Sopi Ndoxaliin, Sopi Kaduyi, Sopi Ngir louy Järiñ Senegal”

This is the best tribute one can pay to an extraordinary man who embodies the noblest values of humanity and humanism.

In these difficult times, our thoughts and prayers are with you, Master, with your family and with all the people of Senegal.

We are united in our admiration for a giant of our time.

We are challenged in our stances to support and raise higher this torch of Freedom.

From Bambey to Dakar, from Ziguinchor to Saint-Louis (Ndar), from Fonguélémi to Ndirène, from Keur Meïssa to Fissel Mbadane, from Paris to Singapore, from New York to Rio de Janeiro, everywhere, let's plant a tree, clean a street, a hospital, a school, a church, cemeteries. Let's hold Leadership and Entrepreneurship Pitches for the benefit of younger generations, go and meet prisoners of liberty and their families, fundraise for a social cause, return to our villages and towns of origin to talk about the man, his work and the lessons to be learned.

Great men of the stature of President Abdoulaye Wade, a man of Duty, offer us a journey, a portrait, a work not for contemplation but rather to inspire us.

Long live Mr. President! Stay with us for a better Senegal!

Happy birthday PR Wade.

100 minutes dedicated to a cause can change a context or a world.

May 29, 1926

May 29, 2026

100 years fully dedicated to lifting this country and Africa up to the highest level.

By: Mamadou Ibrahima FALL

Economic Diplomacy Advisor & International Negotiator