Violence dans l'arène : le Gouverneur de Dakar convoque Balla Gaye 2 et Modou Lô
The face-offs and open press conferences were suspended as a precautionary measure. However, according to the sports daily Record, Senegalese wrestling narrowly escaped a total ban. Faced with recurring violence and recent clashes between supporters from Guédiawaye and Parcelles Assainies, the Minister of the Interior, Bamba Cissé, had instructed the Governor of Dakar, Ousmane Kane, to close the arena. Kane, however, was granted a reprieve to attempt a last-ditch mediation. A crisis meeting was thus held, bringing together all stakeholders (promoters, managers, wrestlers, and the president of the National Wrestling Committee, Bira Sène) for a final warning.
The National Arena, a "bomb" to defuse
The administrative authority's assessment is alarming. Based on a report from the Prefect, the Governor described the National Arena as a veritable "time bomb":
“I’ve only been to the National Arena once. When I read the Prefect’s report listing the shortcomings, I shuddered. The lack of working fire extinguishers, when the event costs between 200 and 300 million, is unacceptable.”
The representative of the Executive ordered the Ministry of Sports to correct these defects immediately, under penalty of administrative closure of the site.
"I don't dare go out on fight days."
Ousmane Kane expressed his exasperation with the insecurity paralyzing the capital: "Even I, the Governor of Dakar, don't dare go out on days of fighting."
He favours dialogue but warns that violence will cease "by force" if necessary, because "the security of citizens is non-negotiable".
Taking full responsibility, he insisted: "I asked the minister for permission to hold this meeting to give the wrestling world one last chance. My credibility is at stake, and I'm not going to take this lightly."
Balla Gaye 2 and Modou Lô were approached
To ease tensions, the Governor explicitly asks the leading figures, notably Balla Gaye 2 and Modou Lô, to speak publicly to raise awareness in their respective communities of Guédiawaye and Parcelles Assainies.
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