A violent fire broke out on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Wallan Kingui elementary school in the commune of Fongolimbi, Kédougou region. The blaze completely destroyed the teachers' room, causing significant material damage and plunging the victims into a particularly difficult situation.

According to the report prepared by the school's management, the fire broke out during heavy rain, under circumstances that are still unknown. The flames spread rapidly inside the building before finally being brought under control thanks to the intervention of local residents and several volunteers who came to the scene.

Extensive material damage and threats to educational activities

The material damage is extensive. The fire consumed a large portion of the teachers' teaching materials, as well as administrative and school documents essential to the school's operation. The teachers' personal belongings, including beds, mattresses, clothing, utensils, and various school supplies, also went up in smoke. Although no lives were lost, the consequences remain significant for the affected teachers, who have lost both their personal possessions and their teaching tools.

“We lost everything. Documents, clothes and even the equipment used for classes were reduced to ashes,” says a teacher still in shock after the tragedy.

Beyond the material losses, this fire risks having a direct impact on the normal course of the school's educational activities. School authorities are particularly concerned about disruptions to the organization of classes and the working conditions of teaching staff.

Faced with this alarming situation, an appeal for help has been launched to administrative and educational authorities, school partners, and people of goodwill to support the victims and contribute to the rehabilitation of the damaged building. The residents of Wallan Kingui now hope for swift action to enable the teachers to return to decent living and working conditions in an area where school infrastructure is already fragile.