The inter-village collective for the preservation of heritage, Gay o Jeg Es, has expressed its firm opposition to the project to build an urban center in the commune of Niakhar (Fatick).

During a press conference in Sagne, the affected populations strongly criticized the attitude of the mayor, whom they accuse of being behind this maneuver.

The urban center project covers an area of 555 hectares which could eventually impact eight villages.

In his statement, the coordinator of the collective, Gilbert Waly Ndiaye, denounced an initiative which he considers to be imposed on the natives without prior consultation.

The people vehemently reject what they call the "machinations" of the mayor of Niakhar, Ama Codou Sène, and the Directorate of Urban Centers, who, in contradiction with the principles of good governance, are trying to impose a project that has already been rejected.

At the same time, they regret the lack of transparency and the failure to take their concerns into account, even though they are the ones most affected.

"This lack of transparency is all the more blatant given that no environmental impact study has ever been presented to either the local population or the collective," lamented the coordinator.

"We condemn this deeply shocking approach which reduces the land we cultivate to mere land reserves, when it is the foundation of our economic survival, our social cohesion and our cultural identity," he added.

Mr. Ndiaye is thus protesting against what he describes as a coercive approach by the municipal authorities and the representative of the urban centers management.

"Agricultural land is neither for sale, nor to be given away under duress, nor to be sacrificed on the altar of imposed development disconnected from local realities. It constitutes a heritage, a wealth and a history. It feeds the population through family farms and livestock farming," he insisted.

The group is therefore demanding the immediate cessation of all initiatives aimed at imposing this project as well as the suspension of all procedures related to the allocation of 555 ha.

For his part, Ousmane Diouf, a member of the collective, appealed to the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, reminding them of the importance they place on agriculture. Referring to the Ndingler precedent, he declared: “We are experiencing the same reality. The Head of State must come to our aid, as he did for Ndingler at the time.”

The collective brings together the villages of Sagne, Mbafaye, Nianiane, Mboudaye, Mbane, Nguess, Diemou and Ngodaguene.

Wearing red armbands, those affected reiterate their firm commitment to defend their territory by all legal and legitimate means.