[Vidéo] Mining service: the perilous survival of street sellers in the face of repression!

Every day, dozens of street vendors set up shop near the Dakar Mining Service in Hann, hoping to offer parts and accessories for vehicles to passing drivers.

But between police pressure, interventions by municipal agents, the absence of a legal framework and insecurity, their activity is becoming more and more difficult. Faced with these challenges, these sellers are calling for recognition and supervision of their profession to be able to survive with dignity.

On one of the busiest thoroughfares in Dakar, near the Service des Mines and the Hann roundabout, a scene punctuated by the sound of horns and the roar of engines takes place every day. Here, dozens of street vendors brave the oppressive heat to sell auto parts and various accessories to motorists looking for a quick solution before their vehicle’s technical inspection. However, this activity, which allows many to provide for their families, is increasingly threatened by repeated police interventions and strict regulations.

Youga Tall, a young merchant from Guédiawaye, found with a group of street vendors near the roundabout at the entrance to Mariste, tries every day to sell his products. Like him, many young people travel several kilometers every day in the hope of finding customers among the motorists who go to technical inspections. “We are neither thieves nor attackers, we simply seek to earn an honest living. But recently, it has become very difficult for us to sell because of frequent interventions by the police and municipal agents of the municipality of Hann Bel-Air,” he confides with bitterness.

Between insecurity and uncertainty

With a tired but determined look, Mamadou Diallo, in his late fifties, wearing a Hamical Cambral cap, explains: “We are exhausted by this incessant chase with the police and municipal agents, which has lasted for more than a year. month. We are accused of being responsible for traffic jams, but whether we are there or not, traffic will always remain congested. We simply ask to be left alone so that we can work with dignity. »

Street vendors are not only faced with police repression. Their activity also involves considerable risks. Mor Faye, dressed in a Chelsea jersey, illustrates this reality: “I was selling license plates, but the state banned this activity. I had to retrain in the sale of pumps and warning triangles to support myself. However, even in this new activity, difficulties persist. Sometimes when a motorist stops to buy an item, the police immediately intervene and order us to leave the area. It is becoming more and more difficult to practice our profession in such conditions. »

The precariousness in which these sellers operate also exposes some to the risk of accidents. Between the comings and goings of vehicles and the need to quickly capture the attention of motorists, they often put their safety at risk. It is not uncommon to witness falls or accidents caused by rushing and lack of secure space to carry out their business.

A call for help from the authorities

Faced with this situation, Atoumane Sow, another seller, makes a desperate appeal: “We would have liked to have canteens in order to work in complete peace. We are breadwinners and have no other means of support. Our only wish is to be able to carry out our activity without being constantly worried. »

Street vendors are asking the State of Senegal to regularize their activity, with the establishment of dedicated spaces that would allow them to operate legally. In the meantime, they continue to fight every day, in an atmosphere as vibrant as it is precarious, for their survival and that of their families.

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