Tendième-Bignona: A congress to rethink local development

In Tendième, in the Bignona department, the fourth community congress has been taking place since yesterday, August 16, 2026. This meeting is marked by a mobilizing theme: civic responsibility and sustainable development. Twenty-two years after the resolutions adopted in 2004, this new edition provides an opportunity to take stock, revitalize mobilization, and outline future prospects for a region rich in resources but facing persistent challenges.

Malang Faty, former president of the congress and retired civil engineer, emphasized that development must originate from the grassroots level and not be imposed from the outside. He stressed the importance of understanding local strengths, reinforcing community organization, and revitalizing initiatives in seven priority areas: the economy and trade, infrastructure management (such as boreholes and mills), education and health, natural resource protection, and religious practice and social cohesion. He believes the key lies in the villagers' ability to engage in dialogue and unite around their priorities.

The mayor of Tenghory, Sidyi Badji, praised this civic engagement and emphasized fundamental needs such as access to drinking water, which he considers a basic right. He also denounced the bushfires, calling for shared civic responsibility to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development. Despite the challenges, he affirmed that he sees a local dynamism that provides a solid foundation for launching Tendiéme onto a new path.

Alioune Tine, president of the Afrikajom Center, highlighted the contradiction between Casamance's natural wealth and the poverty of its people. He noted that Tendiéme is a reservoir of highly skilled professionals and natural resources, but that the urgent task is to transform this potential into real prosperity. For him, this congress is part of a systemic transformation strategy, where villages become models of organization and citizen participation.

The founder of Africajom Center stressed the importance of empowering local communities to think, initiate and act for their own development.

This congress in Tendième-Bignona thus appears as a decisive step towards reconciling the driving forces, revitalizing community mobilization, and building a sustainable future. Between environmental protection, access to basic services, and civic engagement, the foundations for endogenous and inclusive development are being laid, continuing the initiatives championed by historical figures like Emile Badiane and reflecting the spirit of a new generation ready to meet the challenges.