Senegal’s new President Diomaye Faye bans airport ceremonies during his arrival or departure. He says Govt officials have more important things to do. So, he will be arriving & departing without any fuss. No formal greetings, no ceremonies, just him and his team.
The radical and youthful Senegalese leader, who came to power in April emphasised that government officials have more pressing matters to attend to, thus opting for a departure and arrival process devoid of formalities and ceremonies.
This decision aims to streamline government operations and allocate resources more efficiently.
By eliminating unnecessary and costly protocol receptions, President Faye seeks to promote economic efficiency in the West African country.
This move prompts reflection on the substantial financial and temporal investments traditionally devoted to protocol activities by African governments, including Kenya.
African governments and their leaders have faced criticism for their penchant for pomp and ceremony when travelling abroad.
This includes the practice of lining up senior government and military officials at the airport during departures and arrivals, which is viewed as a wasteful expenditure of time and resources.