The administrative and local authorities of the commune of Diass are advocating for the regularization of the "red zones", in order to guarantee long-established populations the full recognition of their land rights.

"By red zones, we mean areas that already have titles and where there were already dwellings long before these areas were titled. There is a census work that must be done under the validation of Procasef and we will have to find a solution together. There is work that we will do together. At the beginning, it was not within the perimeter of Procasef that human action in the national domain was taking place," explained the mayor of Diass, Mamadou Dione.

Thus, regularizing the red zones remains the main challenge today. Their reclassification as green zones would mean, for thousands of families, the end of decades of land uncertainty and the assurance of being able to pass on their assets.

This took place during a ceremony to visit the land office and issue land titles, as part of the Cadastre and Land Tenure Security Project (Procasef). This will allow the municipality of Diass to take a new step in land tenure security with the inauguration of the land office built thanks to Procasef, which is financed by the World Bank.

The ceremony, marked by the handing over of allocation titles to the beneficiary populations, was an opportunity to emphasize the need to regularize the "red zones", these areas inhabited long before their title was given, but which remain legally unsecured.

The sub-prefect of Sindia, El Hadj Djiby Bocoum, praised a "socially validated" process, the result of an inclusive approach on the ground. "Procasef is more than just a boon. It allows us to transform customary law into law recognized on paper and to anticipate land tensions, which today constitute a major challenge for the authorities," he noted.

However, he drew attention to the red zones located within strategic investment areas such as Blaise Diagne International Airport, the port of Ndayane, and the Daga Kholpa industrial zone. "These zones deserve to be reclassified from red to green, and even dark green," argued the sub-prefect, calling on project stakeholders to champion this reform at the highest level.

Mayor Mamadou Dione emphasized the urgent need for joint efforts to legally recognize these already inhabited areas. "These are areas where families lived long before they received title deeds. It is up to us to identify them and find a fair solution. We will do this together with Procasef."

He welcomed the results obtained: more than 4,600 cadastral identification numbers (Nicad) already assigned out of more than 10,000 units surveyed in the field.

According to him, this progress is made possible by a methodology based on transparency, consultation and the prevention of disputes.

For his part, the national coordinator of Procasef, Mouhamadou Moustapha Dia, noted that the project, funded to the tune of $80 million (half grant, half loan), will continue until July 2026, but that discussions are underway for a second phase. "The donors are ready to support the government in extending these efforts so that all municipalities can fully secure their land rights," Mr. Dia stated.

André Tessier, representative of the World Bank, welcomed the significant progress and confirmed that discussions are underway to extend the project. "If the government requests it, we are prepared to mobilize resources to allow Procasef to continue for another two years," Mr. Tessier stated.