The territorial observatories on the extractive sector (Otse) of Darou Khoudoss, Mboro and Taiba Ndiaye, held a press point on May 5, 2024 to draw the attention of the Government to the exploitation of extractive resources, in Senegal in general and in the district of Méouane in particular.
“First of all, we would like to recall that territorial observatories on the extractive sector are citizen mechanisms set up in an inclusive manner to defend the rights of communities through dialogue and consultation between stakeholders in the extractive sector, particularly populations. , authorities and businesses,” reads the opening statement.
According to the document, the Méouane district is home to several mining operations, the best known of which are the Grande Côte Opération (Gco), the Chemical Industries of Senegal (Ics) and the quarries. Those responsible for these Otse cohabitation between these companies and the populations poses real problems. They inform that the transport of dangerous products which spill onto the road which crosses the municipalities; periodic gas leaks which destroy plantations and fruit trees, leading to a loss of income from farmers’ harvests; non-compliance with environmental obligations, in particular the periodic monitoring of the quality of water, soil and air provided for by the Ics mining conventions; non-compliance with the provisions of the law on local content, particularly in terms of employment; the numerous exemptions granted to Ics; the non-operationalization of funds intended for local authorities (the support and equalization fund, the local development support fund).
“With all these findings, we, members of the territorial observatories of the communes of Darou Khoudoss, Mboro and Taïba Ndiaye, invite companies to respect their legal and contractual obligations, in particular: periodic studies on the quality of water, soil and air provided for by mining conventions and their publications; to respect financial, social and environmental commitments and greater transparency in the management of non-mandatory social expenditure (CSR), with greater involvement of local authorities, as stipulated by the provisions of article 32 of the 2021 law – 28 of June 15, 2021, on the social and solidarity economy to bring their installations up to the required standards in order to avoid gas escapes,” we read in the document.
The Otse are also asking to find with the State of Senegal the means to build a bypass route for trucks that transport dangerous products to these farms.
Adou Faye
