Cashews, Mangoes, Peanuts, Ecotourism...: The incalculable losses from the under-exploitation of Ziguinchor's assets

The presentation of the monographic report on the southern region of Ziguinchor highlighted the paradoxes of a territory endowed with considerable resources, yet unable to transform them into genuine drivers of competitiveness. Conducted by the National Agency for Territorial Development (ANAT), a public body responsible for designing and coordinating territorial development policies, the study provides the State and economic stakeholders with planning tools for a ten-year horizon.

The interventions of Moussa Sall, coordinator of the Task Force of the Program for Improving Competitiveness and Employment (PACE), and Modou Mamoun Diop, prefect of Oussouye, made it possible to identify precisely the challenges that are hindering the development of Ziguinchor and the southern region.

Moussa Sall explained that the PACE approach is based on structuring value chains, an essential condition for fostering development. He cited the cashew sector as an example, where the region loses between 40 and 50% of the value of cashew nuts due to a lack of local processing. While processing industries exist, they struggle to secure raw materials, which weakens the entire production system.

Statistics are not consistent between Ziguinchor and Sédhiou, which further complicates the management of the sector. "If you don't structure your value chains, you won't create development," he emphasized, stressing the need to position the private sector at every link.

The report also highlights the paradox of tourism. With 850 kilometers of coastline and exceptional potential for ecotourism, Ziguinchor struggles to attract more than 10,000 visitors per year, a paltry figure compared to the million tourists targeted by Senegal.

The region's chronic isolation is a major obstacle to its attractiveness. Reaching Ziguinchor often requires crossing into a neighboring country, which limits mobility, investment, and the development of local industries.

The Coordinator of the PACE Task Force, Moussa Sall, also emphasized the need to consider development in terms of integrated clusters. The value chains of mangoes, peanuts, oilseeds, and cashew nuts transcend regional borders and require a joint approach between Sédhiou, Kolda, and Ziguinchor. He stressed that while Ziguinchor boasts numerous large, well-established companies, its SME sector remains fragile, requiring enhanced support and reforms to build viable economic ecosystems. The Directorate of Private Sector Development (DDSP), through its national development and investment strategy, intends to implement support plans to strengthen these sectors and transform the potential of the southern region into sustainable wealth.

The Prefect of Oussouye, Modou Mamoun Diop, for his part, stressed the importance of the monographic study, which allows us to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the territory, but also the factors that could compromise its development.

Representing the Governor of Ziguinchor, Mor Talla Tine, the administrative authority of the Oussouye department emphasized that the southern region must overcome economic and infrastructural challenges to become competitive and attractive. "To get here, one often has to cross a country," he stressed, highlighting the region's isolation as a major obstacle. According to him, this study provides stakeholders with a solid foundation for making informed decisions and gives the government tools to better develop its public policies.

The monographic report on the southern region thus serves as both a warning and a call to action. Without structuring cashew value chains, better leveraging ecotourism potential, and reducing isolation, Ziguinchor risks remaining on the margins of national development. Local stakeholders, the government, and partners must now translate these findings into concrete measures to make the region a true engine of competitiveness and territorial integration.