Respect for commitments already made by the State and the regularization of housing in the coordinated development zones (ZAC) of Kaffrine were at the center of the general assembly held at the education and training inspectorate (IEF), within the framework of the fifth action plan of the G7 and the SAEMS.

Faced with what they consider "drastic and arbitrary" wage cuts, unions denounce a measure they deem unjustified and contrary to previous agreements. For them, the aim is not to open new negotiations, but to demand the strict application of commitments already made by the government.

"Issues related to social liabilities remain a priority and we are not in a dynamic of renegotiation, but in a logic of respecting the commitments already made," stressed Wandifa Mané, regional secretary general of SAEMS and regional coordinator of the G7.

The meeting in Kaffrine "is part of the fifth action plan which began yesterday with a strike widely followed by colleagues. Today, another strike was observed from 9 a.m., with strong mobilization, as evidenced by the massive presence of teachers here at the IEF," he specified.

Referring to the holding of this relocated assembly, he recalled: "We are gathered here today at the IEF following the general assembly that we decentralized. During our last meeting held at the regional education authority, we decided by mutual agreement to organize a decentralized general assembly at the IEF level."

At the regional level, the issue of the Kaffrine development zones was also raised repeatedly. Souleymane Diongue, regional secretary of SELS, warned that this point would be the subject of a specific demand if no solution is found.

“Another point that will not be resolved will be the subject of a regional demand: the coordinated development zones (ZAC) of Kaffrine. We are asking the Minister of Urban Planning to make the housing available. The State has said that it will deal with it, but we are and always will be in opposition, because we are not asking for the impossible,” he declared.

Union leaders believe that the pressure exerted by the state, far from hindering the movement, is actually strengthening their commitment. "Today, we saw that the call to action is widely heeded, which shows that we are more than determined in this struggle. The pressure that the state is beginning to apply only makes us more resolute in our demands," concluded Souleymane Diongue.

In Kaffrine, teachers are thus displaying a strong and structured mobilization, determined to continue their fight until their demands are met.