In Saint-Louis, the fight against the alarming advance of the Langue de Barbarie breach has entered a new phase. On Wednesday, March 25th, institutional, technical, and community stakeholders were brought together by the National Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM) to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at sustainably containing this phenomenon.

This information and awareness workshop takes place in a context marked by the accelerated deterioration of the breach. The latest observations from ANAM indicate risks of rupture at several points and increasing instability of the channel, exacerbating the threats to populations and economic activities.

Faced with this situation, discussions focused on an ambitious integrated project. This includes dredging and development operations for waterways, the construction of a modern fishing port, and the establishment of a training center dedicated to blue economy professions.

This program already benefits from international support, with the Kingdom of the Netherlands committing to work alongside ANAM to support the search for sustainable solutions. The meeting's objective was therefore to strengthen the commitment of all stakeholders, highlighting the expected benefits in terms of maritime safety, socio-economic development, and the strengthening of local skills.

In this context, a memorandum of understanding was signed between ANAM, the Municipal Development Agency (ADM), the National Company for the Management and Operation of Maritime Infrastructure (SOSENAV), and the Operational Bureau for the Coordination and Monitoring of Projects and Programs (BOCS). It aims to conduct in-depth studies to stabilize the breach and prevent further loss of life.

The Director General of ANAM, Bécaye Diop, emphasized the need for action after numerous studies that have gone nowhere. He announced the imminent start of work, with the ambition of achieving tangible results in the short and medium term, by 2030.

The initiative should also be extended to other partners, including the European Union, in order to consolidate the foundations of a viable and sustainable project.

For his part, the Director General of ADM, Mahmoud Diop, praised the integrated approach taken by the BOCS. According to him, only a comprehensive intervention will allow for an effective response to the environmental and socio-economic challenges. He warned against the dramatic consequences of inaction, noting that studies predict the submersion of part of the city if no measures are taken against coastal erosion.

Tasked with strategic coordination, the BOCS calls for strengthened synergy among the various stakeholders. Its Director General, Birome Holo Ba, emphasizes that the matter is being monitored at the highest levels of government, notably by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the Prime Minister. He promises methodological and operational support to ensure the coherence and effectiveness of interventions.

Presiding over the meeting, the deputy governor in charge of administrative affairs, Sidy Guissé Diongue, emphasized the structuring nature of this project. Beyond addressing the environmental emergency, he sees it as a lever for economic recovery for the entire Saint-Louis region.