Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The global BRIDGE gathering in Abu Dhabi has emerged as a global connector that can help safeguard cultural sovereignty while shaping a more ethical digital future, said Macky Sall, former President of the Republic of Senegal.
Sall, who served as president from 2012 to 2024, was speaking during a session titled Leadership for an Open Digital Future, moderated by Richard Attias, Chairman of Richard Attias & Associates and BRIDGE Board Member, on the third and final day of the summit.
In an era where digital platforms have become modern public squares, Sall said that a global forum like BRIDGE plays a pivotal role in raising discussions around content and responsibility.
At the heart of his remarks was cultural sovereignty, which Sall described as “a sacred value for every people” – the ability to protect “its DNA, its values”. Without this, he warned, societies risk becoming “like computers, without soul, without individuality”.
He underscored the importance of preserving language, particularly in Africa, which hosts “more than a third of the languages spoken in the world”.
Reflecting on Africa’s scale and youthful demographics, Sall noted that Africa must take an active role in content creation, rather than remaining a consumer of products from elsewhere. He cautioned against leaving young people solely at the mercy of platform algorithms without oversight or balance.
While technology and platforms may serve as the container, he stressed that “the content must be preserved”.
He stressed the urgency of digital literacy, critical thinking and age limits because “falsehood looks like truth, and truth can look like falsehood”.
In this regard, Sall praised Australia’s recent decision to restrict social media access for under-16s.
Parents, he added, also play a crucial role, warning that family life is increasingly fragmented by screens, resulting in an erosion of shared values and social interaction.
