Dakar, April 23 (APS) – The Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Jean Baptiste Tine, asked the state services concerned to ensure the application of the “directives” given by the President of the Republic for a good organization of the “daaka” (pilgrimage) of Medina Gounass (south) planned from next Saturday.
Mr. Tine chaired, Tuesday afternoon, in Dakar, a meeting to prepare the 83e edition of this pilgrimage, which will take place until May 6.
During the meeting, the Minister of the Interior, responsible for religion within the government, inquired about the level of preparations for the event for the ministries and decentralized public services concerned (water, electricity, security, health, etc. .).
“Today, for me, it is a question of evaluating, in conjunction with the sectoral ministries involved, the state of implementation of the commitments made and of taking corrective measures to the difficulties identified,” said Mr. Tine .
According to him, the distribution of water in Medina Gounass is the most worrying issue due to the presence of thousands of pilgrims in this town in the Kolda region, for this annual pilgrimage.
The hydraulic services assured the Minister of the Interior and Public Security of the finalization, before the event, of a new 15-kilometer water supply network.
Five hundred meters will be installed in Medina Gounass to allow pilgrims and households in this city to have access to running water, according to Jean Baptiste Tine.
Thirty tanker trucks will be mobilized for the correct distribution of water to the numerous pilgrims, he assured.
“President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko reiterated their firm commitment to supporting all religious households […] I ask those responsible for state structures involved in the organization of the ‘daaka’ to ensure compliance with the commitments made here,” said Mr. Tine.
The Head of State and the Head of Government “reminded me of their commitment to the good organization of the 2024 edition of the ‘daaka’”, he added.
Jean Baptiste Tine also asked the governor of the Kolda region, who participated in the meeting, to ensure rigorous application of the decisions taken.
Likewise, he recommended to the Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, and to the Director General of Territorial Administration as well, to ensure proper execution of the measures taken with a view to the normal progress of the “daaka” and possibly report any difficulties encountered.
Cheikh Ahmadou Tidiane Kébé, vice-president of the “daaka” organizing committee, was delighted with the level of execution of the commitments made by the public authorities for the smooth running of the pilgrimage.
He urges pilgrims not to use gas canisters, in order to avoid any risk of fire.
Thousands of faithful from all regions of Senegal and several countries have participated in this religious event every year since 1942, under the leadership of guides from the Tidjan community of Medina Gounass.
AFD/FKS/ESF/BK
