At a forum held last Saturday in Méouane on the impact of mining activities in the area, the mayor of the commune, Cheikh Sall, spoke out to denounce the increase in fatal accidents linked to trains operated by the mining company Grande Côte Opérations (GCO). He particularly mentioned the recent tragedy in the village of Ndoukoureu, where a woman tragically lost her life.

Deeply angry with the company, the mayor announced the town hall's official support for the victims' families in their legal proceedings against GCO. According to him, these accidents are only the visible part of a series of harms suffered by local populations: environmental degradation, damage to agriculture and livestock farming, and, above all, the company's lack of social responsibility.

"So far, the family of the latest victim has received no support from GCO. The deceased's children have even had to drop out of school. This is unacceptable," Sheikh Sall lamented.

In response to these accusations, GCO's communications department provided clarification in a press release. According to the company, the impact of its activities on agriculture is limited, as it exclusively mines mineral sands in the dunes. The exploited areas would also be revegetated and returned to the Senegalese government after extraction.

Economically, GCO points out that it is among the largest contributors to the national budget from the mining sector. In 2024, the company claims to have injected 121.3 billion CFA francs into the economy, including 70.2 billion CFA francs in local purchases and subcontracting, and 27.5 billion CFA francs in taxes paid to the state.

Despite these figures, local criticism persists. For the mayor of Méouane, these economic benefits cannot justify the human losses or compensate for the social and environmental damage. The announcement of a possible lawsuit thus opens a new chapter in the tense relations between the municipality of Méouane and the GCO company.