President Macky SALL christens the brand new offshore patrol vessel NIANI during the ceremony celebrating the 49th anniversary of the Senegalese Navy

On Tuesday 23 January 2024, the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Macky SALL, presided over the 49th anniversary of the Senegalese Navy at the Amiral Faye Gassama naval base in Dakar.

To mark the occasion, the President of the Republic of Senegal christened the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) “NIANI”, newly acquired by the Armed Forces. The NIANI is a remarkably versatile 62-metre OPV 58 S patrol vessel. Robust and enduring, it is dedicated to surveillance, identification and intervention missions, perfectly suited to the variety of missions linked to the State Action at Sea. This vessel will enable the Senegalese Navy to carry out its maritime territorial defence missions and State actions at sea.

In his speech, President Sall paid tribute to the sailors who died in the exercise of their service to the Nation and expressed his compassion for their families. “The inauguration of the NIANI Pavilion gives me the opportunity to spare a pious thought for all the sailors who, in the exercise of their service to the Nation, have been torn from our affection. We pray for the repose of their souls, express our deepest sympathy to their families and assure them of our support. “

He also paid a heartfelt tribute to the five marine commandos who went missing at sea on 5 January 2024 during a mission to intercept a vessel involved in international drug trafficking, recalling the rigorous demands of the seafaring profession and the risks inherent in the profession of arms. “I have a very special thought for the five marine commandos who, in the performance of their duty, have been missing at sea for a fortnight. Their disappearance during a mission to intercept a vessel involved in international drug trafficking is a reminder of the rigorous demands of the seafaring profession and the risks inherent in the profession of arms, but also of the nobility of the military commitment of self-sacrifice and supreme sacrifice. These heroes embodied to the end the cardinal values professed by the mottos of the Armed Forces ‘They kill us, they don’t dishonour us’, and of the French Navy ‘At sea, for the homeland’.”

At the start of his speech, the Head of State invited those present to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the 5 Jambaars who died in operations, in the presence of their families.

The ceremony was also marked by the presentation of decorations to Senegalese Navy personnel.