"I am saddened today to have to speak out about a problem of deliberation and very serious defamation against me. I was verbally attacked in the most outrageous manner and my self-esteem was affected. I don't think I deserve it, because I have been running this municipality for 11 years, since 2014, and I do everything I can to ensure there are no disgruntled people. So far be it from me to enter into land transactions."

This was the statement made during a press briefing by the former minister and mayor, Dr Augustin Tine, who finally decided to break his silence to clarify the debate on a land dispute surrounding a field of approximately 5 hectares in the village of Laalane, in the commune of Fandène (department of Thiès).

Mr. Tine, who calls on everyone to exercise restraint, even if they are not happy with a verdict or a deliberation, emphasizes that "in the Municipal Council of Fandène, each time a request for deliberation is submitted, it will be submitted to the secretariat, examined by the deputy mayors who make up the land commission, which must go to the indicated site and ask the villagers, in particular the head of the square or village, and bring us back the conclusions in relation to the information gathered."

This story of the Diop and Niang families has indeed created a lot of waves, recalls the former minister under President Macky Sall. Also to inform: "We actually proceeded with the deliberation, in 2018, on behalf of Mrs. Diop, owner, and after which, we waited for the approval of the administrative authority, representative of the State, and it is only after that, that the mayor is entitled to assign an extract of deliberation, which was done." After this deliberation, notes Mr. Tine, "naturally there were waves, some complaints, and to avoid friction between people, we decided, in 2020, to proceed with the decommissioning to leave the land free, therefore in the hands of the town hall of Fandène, which will decide what to do with it."

However, the mayor continues, "the person who had acquired the land appealed to the Supreme Court, which resulted in a ruling from that Court, annulling our decision to decommission. So, from that moment on, naturally, and even before, when we decommissioned the land, I actually tried to ask the Niang family to discuss with the Lebanese family, so that they could see how to share the land, in order to settle this amicably."

And to conclude, Dr. Augustin Tine wanted to be categorical: "I never spoke about money, and I never spoke about price. Today, when Mrs. Diop wants to recover her land, the Niang family has risen up to accuse me, no doubt to raise the stakes. I say that I do not know any of the families involved. I would like those who hear me to know that I was not involved in any financial matter in this deliberation."