Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Bald\u00e9 said his appointment was “less a distinction than a responsibility,” describing public office as a temporary mission dedicated to serving the public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He thanked president Bassirou Diomaye Faye<\/strong> for renewing his confidence in him and acknowledged the support of the prime minister and the minister of economy, finance and planning. He also paid tribute to outgoing director general Toussaint Manga<\/strong>, commending him for his service to the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Returning to an institution he previously led, Bald\u00e9 stressed that his priority would be continuity rather than division. He said: \u201cI am not returning with a spirit of revenge or to settle scores. I am returning to work, to serve, to build and to work with everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bald\u00e9 said LONASE would focus on preserving public confidence, protecting the integrity of gaming, promoting responsible gambling, strengthening governance and improving economic performance. He stated: \u201cOur ambition is to make LONASE a benchmark public enterprise\u2014a modern, innovative institution committed to transparency, accountability and ethics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The director general added that achieving those goals would require a collective effort rather than individual leadership, saying: \u201cNo lasting reform can be achieved by one person alone. Strong institutions are always the product of collective effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing employees, Bald\u00e9 said merit would remain the primary basis for recognition and promotion while promising an open management style centred on dialogue, fairness and professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also reassured operators, distributors, commercial partners and sporting organisations that LONASE would continue to honour its commitments through relationships based on trust, legal certainty and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concluding his address, Bald\u00e9 said his return to LONASE was an opportunity to strengthen the institution’s existing foundations and advance its long-term ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/LONASE-JCF-300x200.png\")
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