The idea of setting up a youth structure dedicated to a more concerted approach to public policies concerning this segment of the population is, in itself, particularly appealing.

However, the methodology adopted for the operationalization of the Senegal Youth Advisory Council (CCJS), established by Decree No. 2025-1962 of December 5, 2025 and specified by the implementing order dated March 17, 2026, raises several questions.

Indeed, these texts establish the CCJS as a national consultative body, tasked with formulating opinions on public policies concerning youth. However, the adopted structure remains exclusively centralized. No provision is made for the establishment of decentralized bodies at the municipal, departmental, or regional levels.

This organizational choice is difficult to justify, given that local authorities are the primary venues for implementing public policies and the immediate living environments of young people. It limits the operational reach of the CCJS (Council for Youth and Sports), which lacks any grassroots representatives. As it stands, the Council will function as a structure detached from local realities, ill-equipped to grasp the diverse concerns expressed by young people throughout the country. Furthermore, this configuration fails to provide young people in municipalities, departments, and regions with concrete, formal frameworks for expressing and presenting their views on local governance. Yet, public policies are primarily local in nature.

In reality, we are faced with the establishment of an ephemeral electoral college at all levels, which will lead to the formation of an abstract body, totally devoid of a truly social foundation.

How can we claim to represent youth in all its diversity without territorial representatives with real powers of action?

Furthermore, it is incongruous to make a structure that should be a school of democracy for young people, through a fully elective representation, a hybrid body that includes elected members and others who are co-opted according to a modus operandi that is totally beyond the control of the structure itself and is entrusted to the supervisory body.

In short, the idea of the CCJS may be good, but its implementation raises enormous questions.

ALY NGOUILLE SARR

Leader of the NEXT GENERATION.