The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom held the launch of the fourth cohort of the Liberal Academy in Dakar on Thursday, April 30. Fifteen young people were selected for this program focusing on leadership and political training. In an interview on the sidelines of the ceremony, the regional director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Alexandra Heldt, mentioned that the institution has been organizing leadership and political training for young people in Senegal for many years. This fourth cohort consists of fifteen young leaders from various political backgrounds, including journalists, human rights activists, politicians, and youth party activists.
The theme of the inaugural panel titled “Geopolitics and Global Recomposition: Challenges for Africa” was justified by Alexandra Heldt in the context of ongoing geopolitical changes globally and the implications for Africa and especially the western region. According to the director, “the world situation is changing. Old partnerships are being questioned, new partnerships are being formed, and at the same time, there are multiple wars, multiple conflicts,” citing examples like Ukraine, the Middle East, and Mali.
She emphasized the need to face these challenges, find answers, and equip young people to understand and respond to these issues. The foundation places its trust in African youth but believes that they need to be educated and prepared to tackle these challenges effectively. The goal is to hopefully bring about change and contribute to societal renewal in a reasonable manner.
Addressing the need for a better global balance, she stressed the importance of dialogue and exchange between different sectors and political factions. She highlighted the role of political training from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in fostering dialogue and consensus-building among various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of trust and cooperation for moving forward together.
