Tensions are rising in Grand-Yoff, where several land disputes are causing serious concern among residents. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, a large gathering took place at the Bignona market. Wearing red armbands, the residents expressed their anger and their determination to oppose what they describe as land grabbing targeting spaces and homes in the municipality.

Mayor Madiop Diop, present at the scene, expressed his support for the residents. He denounced what he considered an alarming situation, marked by a rise in disputes in several neighborhoods, including Khar Yalla, Cité Millionnaire, and Arafat, among others. According to him, these conflicts threaten social stability and the rights of long-established residents.

Among the most sensitive cases is that of the Faye neighborhood in Khar Yalla, where 22 families who have lived there for decades are now facing eviction after a property developer presented a title deed. For the municipality, such a situation is "unimaginable" and "intolerable."

The Bignona market at the heart of the conflict

Another source of tension is the Bignona pig market, considered an important economic hub for the town. For over thirty years, this site has housed commercial activities related to the sale of pork and directly or indirectly supports nearly 600 people.

According to industry stakeholders, this market generates approximately three billion CFA francs annually for the local economy. However, traders claim they have received a 28-day eviction notice, a prospect that is causing serious concern as Easter approaches, a period of high demand for pork.

“We cannot accept that this market disappears. The survival of hundreds of families is at stake,” said the representative of the market collective, affirming the determination of the actors to continue the fight.

The protesters are also denouncing the intervention of the Directorate for Monitoring and Control of Land Use (DSCOS), which they accuse of acting without the municipality's authorization. According to them, part of the site, estimated at approximately 500 square meters, could be allocated to a Protestant church.

Residents and political leaders mobilized

For the local population, the case of the Bignona market is part of a broader dynamic of land pressures.

Several residents of Millionaire City, Arafat and Khar Yalla claim to be facing attempts to reclaim their homes, which have been occupied for years.

According to them, a property developer is brandishing land titles to claim plots that are already inhabited, a situation that is fueling incomprehension and concern within the community.

Present at the rally, political leader Khalifa Sall also offered his support to the people. "They will never succeed, because we will not accept this latest act of treachery. We are all behind you and we will not allow this market to be taken from you," he declared to the demonstrators.

An urgent appeal to the State

Faced with these tensions, the Grand-Yoff town hall is calling on the state to intervene swiftly to prevent an escalation of the conflict. Municipal authorities are demanding the immediate suspension of all transfer procedures concerning public facilities, a technical and legal audit of recently granted leases, and the systematic involvement of the local authority in all land allocation decisions.

"Grand-Yoff is not a land without a master. It is a municipality built by the collective effort of its inhabitants," recalled Mayor Madiop Diop, insisting on the need to preserve public spaces and social cohesion.

While awaiting a response from the relevant authorities, the people say they are determined to continue mobilizing to defend their homes and economic activities.