As part of the process of modernizing territorial administration, a workshop dedicated to revising the regulatory framework governing villages was held in Dakar this Thursday. The meeting brought together the fourteen regional representatives of the National Association of Village Chiefs of Senegal, who came to express their concerns and propose ways to improve their status and better suit their current responsibilities.

Mamadou Faye, president of the National Association of Village Chiefs of Senegal, raised several essential grievances. He notably advocated for raising the minimum age for appointing a village chief to 35, with no upper age limit except in cases of duly documented incapacity. He also proposed that the village chief be appointed by consensus, or failing that, by an election overseen by the administrative authority.

Mamadou Faye also emphasized the need for village chiefs to be literate, able to read and write in French, Arabic, or a codified national language, in order to meet current administrative requirements. He also expressed his wish that the title "Village Chief" be retained, regardless of the content of the future legislation. Other requests included providing laptops and fuel for regional presidents, as well as issuing professional cards to all village chiefs.

For his part, William Manel, director of Territorial Administration, acknowledged the need for a thorough revision of the text governing villages.

“The text governing the villages is outdated. It needs to be revised to adapt to current realities and meet today’s expectations,” he stated. “We have brought the village chiefs together here to find appropriate solutions. We are counting on them for the peace and tranquility of our villages. Without them, we would have much more difficulty administering them,” he added.

This workshop marks an important step in the reflection undertaken by the authorities to modernize the role and status of the village chief, a central figure in the territorial network and an essential link between the State and the people.