Saint-Louis: The army inaugurates the "Army-Nation" field serving youth

The Governor of Saint-Louis, Al Hassane Sall, and the Commander of Military Zone No. 2, Colonel Alioune Samassa, inaugurated the "Army-Nation" football field on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Built by the Armed Forces, this sports facility is intended to serve both as a space dedicated to military personnel and as a meeting place open to the youth of Saint-Louis.

The inauguration ceremony was marked by a strong message about strengthening ties between the army and the people. For Governor Al Hassane Sall, this achievement concretely illustrates the army's role beyond its traditional defense and security missions.

"This infrastructure is being built by the army, but for the benefit of the entire community," stressed the head of the regional executive, who made a point of personally congratulating Colonel Alioune Samassa for this initiative.

Al Hassane Sall also welcomed the choice to name the infrastructure "Army-Nation", believing that this name reflects the Armed Forces' desire to remain close to the people and contribute to their development.

The Governor emphasized the need to preserve this space and to promote the values of discipline, respect, and community spirit. He called on users to reject all forms of violence and to make this field a place for practicing sports in peace and fraternity.

A site for the military and youth

For his part, Colonel Alioune Samassa explained that the field was created to meet the sporting needs of military personnel, while also being intended to accommodate civilian populations, particularly young people from Saint-Louis.

According to the Commander of Military Zone No. 2, this opening is fully in line with the dynamic of the "Army-Nation" concept, which aims to strengthen the links between the Defense and Security Forces and the populations.

"On a football pitch, differences fade away in favor of the collective, shared effort and respect for the rules," he said, highlighting the values of discipline, solidarity, pushing oneself to the limit and fair play.

Colonel Samassa also emphasized the importance of public participation in national defense. He stated that while the military is called upon to serve on the front lines, the population remains active on various fronts, including economic, social, and other areas.

A space dedicated to sport and team cohesion

Beyond its sporting purpose, the new field is presented as a space for cohesion and fraternity. It will be able to host training sessions, sporting events, youth activities, and various initiatives aimed at encouraging regular participation in sports.

The infrastructure must therefore allow the military to have a suitable environment for maintaining their physical condition, while offering young people from Saint-Louis a new space to practice football.

Colonel Alioune Samassa, however, emphasized the collective responsibility for preserving the site. He called on future users to ensure its cleanliness, safety, and sustainability.

"No acts of violence are permitted on this field," he insisted, inviting everyone to make this space a place where not only sporting talents develop, but also friendship, trust and cohesion.

With the "Army-Nation" area, Military Zone No. 2 intends to give concrete expression to the rapprochement between the army and the population, in particular with the youth of Saint-Louis.