For two years, students from the commune of Bambilor, settled in Dakar to continue their studies at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), have been experiencing a real crisis linked to their accommodation.
According to Serigne Mansour Mbaye, president of the Association of Pupils and Students of Bambilor, this situation is the result of disengagement from the municipality, leaving students in great precariousness.
In 2022, the rental contract for the house which served as residence for the students was terminated. Originally, this house was rented thanks to an agreement between the lessor and the municipality of Bambilor. However, the latter withdrew, citing reasons deemed questionable by the Amicale. This rupture led to the eviction of the students, under the pretext of reconstruction work required by the owner.
“Since then, the municipality has not taken any measures to find us new accommodation, despite our numerous searches and proposals,” laments Serigne Mansour Mbaye.
Forced to leave their accommodation, students must now travel daily between Bambilor and Dakar to take their courses at UCAD. A particularly trying logistical and financial ordeal.
“We are fighting body and soul, but faced with the inertia of the municipality, we are at an impasse,” explains the president of the Association.
Despite their efforts to identify solutions, the proposals for new housing submitted to the municipality remain unanswered.
Faced with this situation, the Association is launching an urgent appeal to the local authorities of Bambilor to intervene quickly and provide concrete solutions. “We are asking all the municipal authorities to help us. What we are experiencing is inhumane,” insists Serigne Mansour Mbaye.
This cry from the heart illustrates the distress of students, who are demanding responsibility from local elected officials to guarantee their right to decent housing, an essential condition for the success of their studies.
