Le ton est tombé, sharp as a knife. Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International. The Senegalese government has been criticizing international financial institutions such as Moody’s or the IMF, which it calls “tools of capitalism that have never developed a country”. For the human rights defender, the salvation of Senegal will come of itself, on condition that it breaks with the “economic bricolage” and relies on sound policies, based on national production and the rational exploitation of resources. M. and Gassama points to the direct responsibility of the elites, whom he accuses of having “impoverished a country rich in potential”. It calls for a rigorous management of oil and gas resources, a strong education system and a ruthless fight against corruption. “Senegal is not a poor country, it is impoverished by its elites”, he said, urging the authorities to restore peace, stability and the dignity of a people capable of rising to the rank of emerging nations.
Seydi Gassama against the IMF: “These tools of capitalism have never developed a country”
