Open letter to the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE (by Dr. Daouda Diop)

Subject: Repeated attempts at land subdivision: Urgent need to preserve the land heritage of the Commune of Thiénaba

Mr. President,

Let me begin by congratulating you on the work accomplished since your accession to the highest responsibilities at the end of the elections, the marks of the culmination of a long struggle in which you participated and which further proves the maturity of our democracy, which is capable, despite the vagaries of time, of relying on chivalrous values.

Invested with the trust of your fellow citizens, you carry the hope of an entire generation that believes in a better future: that of building a new, peaceful and prosperous Senegal that fully promotes the cult of work with all the republican ethics involved.

In this respect, local authorities must, ethically and responsibly, play their part by addressing the concerns of the population within the scope of their delegated powers. By exercising the powers necessary for the effective local management of affairs, these local authorities have the primary mission of successfully implementing genuine economic, social, and environmental development initiatives of local interest.

Mr. President of the Republic,

As I write this letter in a spirit of dialogue and service to the community and society, my municipality (Thiénaba) is experiencing an indescribable land-grabbing frenzy. It is crucial, for the sake of a positive economic climate, to halt all these repetitive land allocations and deliberations, which are diametrically opposed to the laws governing land ownership. For over a decade, land management in the municipality of Thiénaba has been plagued by numerous problems and disputes.

I am one of those children of the countryside who refuse to see rural heritage fade away and ultimately create a dependence on financial capital held and defended by foreign operators or local developers. This trend is tearing families apart and paving the way for well-connected investors. These investors have the opportunity to "own" land that, in our opinion, should rightfully belong to the true rural landowners. This is why I advocate for securing the national land registry and ensuring the well-being of future generations.

In a national context where it is urgent to revive our rural heritage, fighting against speculation, the abusive development of land and especially the difficult access to land for vulnerable masses is more than a duty.

Mr. President,

At a time when our communities need to ensure better living conditions for future generations, conditions inextricably linked to the sound management of land and the environment, I find it unacceptable that we remain silent on the abusive housing developments fueled by greed and the pursuit of profit. Furthermore, the inflated financial resources coupled with the rush of investors into rural areas are depriving farmers of what they hold most dear: their land. Farmers must not only be guided and supported, but above all, made aware of and empowered to face the multiple challenges posed by land issues.

Furthermore, since 1882, Thiénaba has remained the custodian and heir of a "rigorism" that seeks to preserve rectitude and respect for moral probity. This religious heritage, which still bears the scars of the years of resistance to colonization and arbitrary rule (1871-1875), and which has always been subtly respected by successive governments, must now be preserved and taken into account.

We must prefer anchoring ourselves in a saving conservatism to openness in exploitation and submission which "stuns" our own populations and squanders our lands.

The future projects that the current mayor, Mr. Talla Diagne, should undertake, in my opinion, consist more in developing a genuine policy of development and enhancement of the potential of the territories as indicated in Act III of decentralization, instead of taking away from landowners this nature which encompasses their life experience, a legacy for future generations.

For all these reasons, I believe it is essential to fight for farmers to retain their land. This is what I call "useful deliberations" because they restore land rights to populations who, lost in the whirlwind of modernity, can only defend their land through the existence of a legally recognized inheritance ( Ndono ) governed by established rules. Farmers need our help. It is an urgent matter. The often illegal dispossession of rural land by wealthy investors (local or foreign) fuels a kind of corporate capital that is massively investing in this land market.

When elected by the majority of the population, the duty that should concern us all is to demonstrate exemplary consistency in carrying out assigned tasks and missions, dedicating ourselves solely to serving the community. However, Mayor Talla Diagne continually tramples on ethical principles, practical morality, and the collective interest. Repeated attempts at land allocation and abusive deliberations are prime examples of this.

Therefore, we ask, Mr. President of the Republic, to please take action to put an end to this insatiable appetite and the appropriation of the land base of Thiénaba under the leadership of the mayor and his accomplices.

Mr. President, our generation has a sacred duty to ensure that our beloved Senegal continues to be an example of commitment to a positive economy intrinsically linked to the future of the rural world. This human dignity must be restored, for a peasantry without land is like a body without a soul.

Please accept, Mr. President, the expression of my highest consideration and my pan-African commitment.

Dr. Daouda Diop

Senior Lecturer (Full)

Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar

Quantitative Economic History