Residents of Ngolanem, a locality in the Mbadakhoune district, took to the streets this Sunday to express their deep discontent. Through this demonstration, they intend to protest the glaring lack of basic social services, such as access to drinking water and sanitation, as well as the growing insecurity that plagues their daily lives. The neighborhood, situated on the border between the Mbadakhoune and Kaolack districts, also suffers from severe isolation, which hinders its development.

Residents are now hoping for swift government intervention to provide essential social infrastructure for their well-being and to improve their living conditions. According to Mamadou Thiam, the organizer and spokesperson for the day, the movement's demands are structured around four priority areas.

Health hazards and failing services

The first point of contention concerns the household waste landfill located in Ngolanem Extension. Residents are demanding its immediate relocation due to the severe odors and lung diseases it causes. Secondly, the management of the drinking water supply is being heavily criticized. The neighborhood has been experiencing water cuts for three months, a situation deemed unacceptable given that the state-approved operator continues to issue exorbitant bills.

Isolation and insecurity: a precarious daily life

The third major concern relates to the disastrous state of the roads, which exacerbates the locality's isolation. For example, the roads are so impassable that during the winter months, ambulances are unable to reach the area to provide assistance to residents. Finally, insecurity remains a fundamental problem for this neighborhood located at the crossroads of two municipalities, compounded by tensions related to the management of land reserves.

Faced with these multiple challenges, the protesters are calling for urgent consultations between the authorities of the two local governments. They are specifically advocating for the establishment of community policing units to effectively combat crime and ensure the protection of the population.