The 163 Haitian students, invited to continue their studies at various universities in Senegal, arrived from Port-au-Prince around 17:00 hours at the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport of Dakar on board a special flight chartered by the Senegalese government.

Upon leaving the aircraft, the Haitian students wearing T-shirts for the occasion on which one could read "Thanks to President Wade and the Senegalese people" were greeted by Amadou Ba Tdiane, the Minister Minister of Higher Education, regional academic centers and Scientific Research and Kalidou Diallo, Minister of Early Childhood Education, Middle secondary and National Languages.

Also present Guirassy Moustapha, the Minister of Communication and Telecommunication and spokesman of the government and Ibrahima Sarr, the minister responsible for energy alongside other dignitaries and many Senegalese came a warm welcome to Haitian students .

The students then took the direction of the Monument of the African Renaissance, where a ceremony was held in their honor in the presence of President Abdoulaye Wade. Was also present Malam Bacai Sanha, the president of Guinea Bissau and Mahamadou Danda Prime Minister of Niger.

At the foot of the Monument of the African Renaissance, which opened six months ago in Dakar, President Abdoulaye Wade has long been the link between the arrival of these 163 young Haitians and departure, formerly of the Island of Goree (at 3 km from Dakar) of millions of Africans sold into slavery and transported by slave traders to America and the Caribbean. "We welcome you as full members of our families [...] Senegal is not an unknown land for Haitians [...] you're at home in Africa from Senegal [...] your ancestors parties were under physical force, you are back under the moral force [...] this October 13, 2010, marked of the return of young Haitians in the land of their ancestors is a great victory for Africa, a victory for black people", said President Wade before launched "vive l’Afrique éternelle, vive le panafricanisme".

Deeply moved, the Senegalese actress of Haitian descent Jacqueline Scott Lemoine, born 87 years ago in this small country far away from the Caribbean, sang successively extracts the national anthems of both countries.

Speaking during the ceremony, Malan Bacai Sanha, Guinea Bissau President said "I came at the invitation of President Abdoulaye Wade to the reception of Haitian students at the Monument of the African Renaissance, which shows the greatness of Africa [...] I believe that this event marks the symbol of international solidarity, African solidarity [...] You're home in Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire as elsewhere in Africa"

For his part, Evans Lescouflair, the Haitian Minister of Youth and Sports, thanked, on behalf of President Rene Preval, the gesture of Senegal. "While choosing to accommodate the Haitian students, you send a signal, you are helping to rebuild Haiti"

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1144-haiti-senegal-160-haitian-students-for-the-academic-year.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1227-haiti-senegal-other-countries-of-africa-could-host-haitian-students.html

HL/ HaitiLibre