Mr. President of the Senate; Mr. President of the National Assembly; Mr. Prime Minister, Head of Government; Members of the Government; Representatives of Constitutional Institutions; Mr. Leader of the Opposition; Representatives of Political Parties, NGOs and Associations; Members of Religious Denominations; Ladies and Gentlemen;

Time, which is irreversibly running out, has just taken us, a few days ago, into the year 2024, tinged with hope and uncertainty. Celebrating and wishing the best for the New Year is part of our history and part of ancient habits and customs.
You have just done so for me, my family and my loved ones.

In return, I would like to express my sincere thanks for your constant and comforting sentiments towards us, and my wishes for health, peace and happiness for you, your families and the members of your respective institutions, organizations and authorities, so that the year 2024 may contribute to your fullest development.
Prime Minister, Head of Government; Forces vives de la Nation;

The positive thoughts expressed during our New Year's greetings reiterate the optimism that accompanies our actions.
As far as our institutions are concerned, the State of the Nation Message, presented on November 28, 2023 to Parliament in Congress, was an opportunity to assess our performances, counter-performances, successes and failures.

For its part, the New Year's message to the Nation on December 31st gave us the opportunity to recall the main challenges we face, for which we must accelerate our efforts.
for which we need to accelerate the implementation of the National Development Plan 2022 - 2026.

After listening patiently to the People, I have decided to declare 2024 the Year of YOUTH, as the expectations of this segment of society are numerous and burning.

In this respect, I enjoin the government :

- to take the right measure of this life-saving initiative, dedicated to the most representative Forces Vives of our country, and which must not be allowed to sink into the clutter of empty slogans;

- immediately define the key projects to be carried out to make the Year of YOUTH a reality;

- determine, without delay, the related financial requirements, the dedicated sources of funding and the actions to be taken to mobilize the necessary resources;

- set up a strict monitoring and evaluation framework, and report back to me periodically.

 

Prime Minister, Head of Government; Ladies and Gentlemen ;

You have reassured me that we all share the same perception of the directives and guidelines that have been laid down and brought to your attention. Results are the key indicator for measuring performance. Local wisdom teaches us that if the fisherman or hunter does not regularly visit the traps set, the catch runs the risk of decomposition or being devoured by predators. At that point, the efforts of one or the other will have been in vain. It's time for the People to take stock, because only a good performance can win the People's trust. Let me remind you, for the sake of history and by way of illustration, that the Republic of Congo was the first country in the world to set up and experiment with the technique of herbaceous cuttings on an industrial scale, with the cloning and vegetative propagation of eucalyptus trees, back in 1974 in Pointe-Noire. This scientific feat, still a world first, made clonal forestry possible, the starting point of a veritable revolution integrated with the development of the industry. To this day, due to a lack of follow-up, perhaps also due to a lack of patriotic conviction or sometimes sabotage, the Congo has not benefited at all from this technological advance, which is now making the good fortune of other countries.

Mr. Prime Minister, Head of Government; Ladies and Gentlemen; For the Congo, our common heritage, more than a commitment to collective effort, you reaffirm the relevance of your role through the advances recorded and the progress achieved, in fact your full place in our march towards development.

Forces vives de la Nation, you are the People in all their diversity, be they political actors, trade union leaders, administrative officials, religious authorities or other stakeholders.

Once again, for the Congo, you have shown self-sacrifice and determination as the driving forces behind your actions.

I truly appreciate your widely shared call for a Congo that is always at peace, united and supportive.

As a seed of peace, our best way of living together is based on listening and mutual esteem, the plurality of our opinions and the acceptance of our differences, the richness of our social and cultural diversity.

This strengthens our belief in an ambient environment, underpinned by a perpetual desire for peace.

Once again, I reiterate the inescapable need for social peace, national cohesion and institutional stability, the cornerstones that inspire our actions and decisions.

The honor and love of our homeland, and the legitimate pride of belonging to the same community of destiny, call out to us all. For this reason, I appeal, once again today, to the mobilization and unfailing commitment of all the Nation's Forces Vives, to enable you to assume, fully and completely, the great responsibility that falls to you.

In view of the foregoing, and in terms of our orientations for 2024, we must give priority to Dialogue and consolidate Peace in the service of national UNITY. We must also reaffirm the cardinal place of WORK, a value synonymous with persevering and relentless effort, without which neither wealth creation nor prosperity are conceivable.

Together, we are continuing our march towards development, in line with our National Development Plan 2022 - 2026.

 

Prime Minister, Head of Government; Ladies and Gentlemen ;

Notwithstanding the uncertainties and shocks inherent in the evolution of the global economy, new advances are within our reach in 2024. With this in mind, I invite all of the Nation's Forces Vives to remain vigilant and mobilized, and to become more involved this year in the fine work of building a more prosperous Congo.

Common sense cannot be separated from reason. Common sense prevents us from getting lost in the clouds, even if it doesn't dispel them. It's necessary to think and to say. It's also necessary to do. Finally, you have to evaluate as you go along, and then at the end. This is the key to success. It's our common bet for 2024, so let's make a date to see the results.

Happy New Year 2024 to all!

Thank you all very much.