Act IV of decentralization: APR elected officials demand guarantees and defend Macky Sall's record

Meeting after the presentation of the main guidelines for the fourth phase of decentralization by the President of the Republic, the Chamber of Elected Officials of the Alliance for the Republic (APR) welcomes the opening of a new phase of reform while calling for the preservation of the achievements of the third phase. In particular, it demands a genuine status for local elected officials, resources adapted to the transferred powers, and broad consultation with all territorial stakeholders.

The elected officials of the APR party point out that the third phase of decentralization, implemented under the presidency of Macky Sall, constitutes, in their view, "the most ambitious and structuring territorial reform in the history of Senegal." They highlight several advances, notably full municipalization, the strengthening of local democracy, the increase in allowances for local executives, the creation of a local civil service, and the increase in resources transferred to local authorities.

The chamber also emphasizes that this reform has been accompanied by structuring programs such as PUDC, PUMA, PROMOVILLE, PACASEN and FERA, which it considers to be important levers for territorial development.

However, she deplores the slowdown or suspension of several of these mechanisms. She cites in particular the lack of funding for PACASEN in 2024, the difficulties affecting FERA, as well as the delays observed in employment and volunteering programs, believing that these situations weaken local authorities and penalize young people.

While acknowledging the authorities' desire to embark on a new phase of the national decentralization policy, the Chamber of elected officials believes that a reform of this magnitude can only produce the expected results if it builds upon the achievements of Act III, benefits from sustainable funding, and is based on coherent governance.

The organization also insists on the need for in-depth consultation involving local elected officials, their representative associations, academics, technical and financial partners, as well as all actors in local governance.

Among the priorities that it considers essential to the success of Act IV are the establishment of a genuine status for local elected officials, the effective transfer of human, financial and material resources along with skills, the clarification of the institutional architecture of future territorial hubs and the preservation of the autonomy of local authorities.

Finally, the APR's Chamber of Elected Officials reaffirms its willingness to contribute to the finalization of this reform in a republican and constructive spirit. It assures that it will remain vigilant regarding the implementation of the announced commitments and calls upon mayors, presidents of departmental councils, territorial councilors, and local party leaders to remain mobilized around the ideals championed by former President Macky Sall in order to defend a decentralization that is "effective, equitable, and truly at the service of the people."