The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore gas project, developed by British Petroleum (BP) and Kosmos Energy on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, is at the heart of a major controversy. The UK's National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has officially accepted a complaint filed by Lumière Synergie pour le Développement (LSD) and representatives of artisanal fishermen in the Langue de Barbarie, acknowledging the legitimacy of their concerns.

The complaint, filed on August 9, 2025, denounced in particular the lack of meaningful and inclusive consultations with local communities as well as the environmental, social and economic impacts of the project on the riverside populations of Saint-Louis, whose fishing activity constitutes the main source of income.

In its decision, the UK NCP considers that the grievances raised deserve a thorough examination and points to shortcomings in BP's human rights due diligence, in accordance with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

The mechanism also highlights shortcomings in the prevention and management of social and environmental impacts related to GTA project operations.

For the plaintiff organizations, this decision represents a historic and political victory. "We have been waiting for this decision for 18 months. We now hope that BP will come to its senses and initiate a redress process for the affected fishermen," said El Hadj Dousse Fall, president of the Association of Artisanal Fishermen of the Langue de Barbarie-Gaalou Guett Commission.

For his part, Aly Marie Sagne, executive director of the NGO Lumière Synergie pour le Développement, believes that the NCP's decision sends a clear message to actors in the extractive sector. "Energy projects can no longer be imposed on communities without their free, prior, and informed consent. Multinationals must be held accountable when their activities harm ecosystems and jeopardize the livelihoods of local populations," he emphasized.

The GTA project, presented as a strategic pillar for the gas development of Senegal and Mauritania, is regularly criticized by civil society organizations for its risks to fishery resources and the ecological balance of the area.

LSD and the fishing communities wish to clarify that their approach is not aimed at opposing development, but at promoting a just energy transition that respects human rights, the environment and local communities.

They finally call on national authorities, technical and financial partners and international institutions to learn from this decision and to ensure that current or future energy projects fully comply with international social, environmental and legal standards.