Exploitation of Matam's mineral resources: Appeal from 41 prominent figures in the region

The exploitation of Agnam's phosphate deposits is entering a new phase. Faced with a social emergency marked by endemic unemployment and rural exodus, a group of 41 leading figures from the Matam region—including former ministers, elected officials, academics, executives, and members of civil society—has issued an urgent appeal. They urge the government, businesses, and local communities to unite to transform the agricultural potential and recent mining discoveries into a genuine driver of sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible growth.

The Matam region is at a crossroads. Endowed with exceptional agricultural potential and enriched by recent major mining discoveries, this northern part of Senegal now has all the necessary elements to initiate a historic economic transformation. Yet, the contrast remains striking: local youth face a particularly high unemployment rate, fueling the scourge of rural exodus and trapping many families in poverty.

Faced with this paradoxical situation, a surge of patriotism and civic engagement has emerged. A diverse and non-partisan group of forty-one leading figures from the region has just launched a powerful appeal. Entitled "Appeal to the State, Elected Officials, the People, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders of the Matam Region," this manifesto directly calls upon all active forces to reverse the current trend.

Leveraging local resources to break the cycle of poverty

For the signatories—among them former Minister of Justice Malick Sall, former minister Abdoulaye Sally Sall, mayors, professors, engineers, and civil society leaders—Matam's future can no longer be conceived through models of raw extraction without local added value. The crucial challenge now lies in the responsible and local development of mineral and agricultural resources.

The group firmly believes that well-regulated mining operations will be the main driver of the region's economic and social development. By processing raw materials locally, Matam will be able to create sustainable jobs, encourage its young people to remain in the region, and offer dignified prospects for the future to present and future generations.

An absolute requirement: respect for the law and the environment

However, the signatories warn that this industrial development must not come at the expense of local balances. The appeal places significant emphasis on the notion of "responsibility." Future projects must strictly adhere to existing laws, environmental protection, and, above all, the fundamental rights of local populations.

This appeal aims to create a space for dialogue and action. It calls upon the State to play its role as regulator and facilitator, elected officials to advocate for institutional development, professionals to contribute their technical expertise, and investors to prioritize local integration. Only in this way, they believe, will the mineral and agricultural resources of Matam cease to be a mere macroeconomic statistic and become a tangible reality in the daily lives of the local population.

Among the signatories is, among others, Mr. Malick Sall – Lawyer, Former Minister of Justice

• Abdoulaye Sally Sall – Former Minister-Advisor, Mayor of Nabadji, Business Operator, • Dr. Mamadou Ndiade – Business Operator, Pharmacist, • Professor Ibrahima Thiam – Associate Professor of Economics and Finance,

• Professor Mamadou Abdoul Diop – Professor of Exceptional Class, • Sory Gueladio Kane – Former President of the Agnam Rural Community, Mamadou Abdoulaye Deme – Former Member of Parliament, • Djibril Diawara – Mining Expert, Oumar Mamadou Yaya Deme – Former Rural Community Leader of Nabadji, Business Operator, • Abdoulaye Sy – Professor