Senegal: a minimal ceremony to celebrate independence

Text by: William de Lesseux Follow

Taking up arms behind closed doors and the national anthem. This is a minimal ceremony that took place this Saturday, April 4 in the morning, at the presidential palace in Dakar to mark the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Senegal. Due to coronavirus, the festivities were canceled.

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From our correspondent in Dakar,

The Senegalese are asked by the presidency to stay at home and share their wishes on video on social networks. It was an unprecedented ceremony at the presidential palace and very fast, a celebration with a particular tone with the advance of the coronavirus pandemic in the country where 144 cases continue to be treated.

For the sixtieth anniversary of independence, the executive had warned, the ceremony will be only military and at least. Thus, it lasted barely ten minutes in the courtyard of the presidency, with a lifting of colors, then the anthem and the review of the troops by Macky Sall.

The Head of State was with the military authorities and the Minister of the Armed Forces. There was no speech, the president addressed the nation Friday evening.

The demonstration therefore remained symbolic and the Senegalese were able to follow it often at home thanks to national television.

This sequence directly echoes the theme chosen this year for the celebrations, namely " the role of the defense and security forces in the management of pandemics and other disasters ". You should know that this theme was chosen well before the start of the coronavirus epidemic.

In the main courtyard, soldiers wanted to set an example. All have respected social distancing measures. At least one meter separated each participant during this unique ceremony.

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• Senegal
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