The news in Senegal was recently marked by the change of name of an emblematic avenue in Dakar. Avenue du Plateau, located in the central district of the capital, was officially renamed Avenue du President Macky Sall during a solemn ceremony.
This name change is far from trivial, because it carries a deep meaning for the country. Previously named after Louis Faidherbe, a general and colonial administrator in Senegal in the 19th century, this avenue is now dedicated to President Macky Sall, current Senegalese head of state.
According to President Sall himself, this decision aims to modernize and update the names of the country’s public roads, favoring those which reflect the collective imagination and national heritage. Indeed, many streets, avenues and squares still bear names linked to a painful or bygone past, and it is time to make a change to better represent Senegal’s identity and its vision for the future.
This name change ceremony took place in an electoral campaign atmosphere, just four months before the next presidential elections. It brought together several ministers, religious and customary authorities, as well as the Prime Minister and presidential coalition candidate, Amadou Ba. Alioune Ndoye, mayor of Dakar-Plateau and member of the ruling Socialist Party, took the initiative for this symbolic decision.
While some residents welcome this recognition granted to President Sall as head of state, others express divergent opinions. Some believe that the president does not deserve this tribute and that it would have been preferable to give the name of the avenue to a more emblematic figure, such as Cheick Ahmadou Bamba.
It is interesting to note that this is not the first time that President Macky Sall has seen his name honored by a change in the name of an avenue. In 2019, an avenue in the city of Saint-Louis had already been renamed in his honor.
This name change raises notable questions about the impact and meaning of toponymy in Senegalese society. It also testifies to the evolution of the perception of President Sall in public opinion.
In conclusion, the change of name of Avenue du Plateau to Avenue du President Macky Sall is a strong symbolic gesture in the desire to modernize the names of public roads in Senegal. This decision provokes mixed reactions, reflecting the diversity of opinions on the work of President Sall. In any case, the evolution of toponymy is an important issue which reflects the social and political evolution of a country.