Discontent is growing within the national private sector. Faced with what it describes as the ongoing deterioration of the business environment in Senegal, the Young Entrepreneurs' Reflection Group has issued a scathing statement in Dakar. The organization is sounding the alarm about the tax and customs burden, which it portrays as suffocating the local economy. At the heart of their demands, the young entrepreneurs are calling for the release of businessman Khadim Ba from detention and demanding a thorough overhaul of customs procedures to put an end to practices they deem abusive.

The Khadim Ba case: A symbol of the legal insecurity faced by local investors

The organization believes that the current tensions between the private sector and the state are perfectly illustrated by the legal troubles of a prominent figure in national entrepreneurship. The group expresses its deep concern about the fate of their colleague, believing that the use of detention in economic disputes sends a disastrous message.

"We are particularly concerned about the situation of our colleague Khadim Ba. A simple dispute with the customs administration has now landed him in detention, the outcome of which now seems to depend on an amicable settlement with the customs services," the statement denounces.

According to the Reflection Framework, this case goes far beyond the individual case and "raises serious questions about the legal security of investors and the treatment of national entrepreneurs." The organization emphasizes the direct social impact of this imprisonment: "Khadim Ba's continued detention serves neither the interests of the national economy nor those of the hundreds of workers who depend directly or indirectly on his activities. When an administrative or tax dispute takes a turn that threatens the continuity of a business, entire families suffer the consequences."

The urgent need for customs code reform to combat arbitrariness

Faced with procedural irregularities observed on the ground, the group of economic operators is calling for addressing the root of the problem by amending current customs legislation. Their stated objective is to remove companies from the sole discretion of administrative inspectors by introducing judicial safeguards.

The text thus formulates a clear demand for a break with the past: "This is why the Young Entrepreneurs' Reflection Framework calls for a profound reform of the Customs Code, made urgent by the numerous dysfunctions observed. This reform must imperatively subject all customs investigations or prosecutions to the effective control of an independent judicial authority, in order to guarantee that the allegations made by the customs administration are based on solid and verifiable facts, and not on arbitrary assessments."

For the group, this legislative update is essential to protect all stakeholders, "from both the formal and informal sectors, against the abuses and procedural inconsistencies that are currently weakening hundreds of businesses."

Foreign preference and stifling of domestic enterprise

Beyond purely customs-related issues, the statement presents a scathing indictment of the country's overall economic direction. Young entrepreneurs highlight a glaring paradox between political promises and the realities faced by local business owners.

They thus deplore "the increasing tax burden and customs duties that are gradually stifling private initiatives and jeopardizing the survival of many businesses." Referring to the official discourse of the current authorities, the think tank makes no secret of its bitterness: "Even more worrying, for authorities who claim to uphold economic sovereignty, the realities observed on the ground give the impression that foreign companies often benefit from more protection and consideration than domestic companies."

According to them, these multinationals "have easier access to certain markets and their interests are better protected, while many Senegalese entrepreneurs—who have invested their resources, built their businesses with determination, and created jobs for their fellow citizens—struggle to obtain the support and protection necessary for their development." This unequal treatment "fuels a deep sense of injustice and erodes the confidence of national economic actors."

Call for general mobilization of the private sector

Noting that this tax pressure "contributes to the closure of businesses, the contraction of investments and the worsening of economic difficulties", the group believes that the time for discreet negotiations is over, but for collective awareness.

The statement concludes with a solemn appeal for the mobilization of all sectors of the business community: “Faced with this reality, we are launching a solemn appeal for the general mobilization of entrepreneurs, importers, mobile phone vendors, street vendors, construction professionals, and all the driving forces of the private sector, in order to demand that the authorities safeguard their interests and protect their businesses.” The organization warns that without immediate action, “our economy will continue to spiral into difficulties with severe consequences for businesses, workers, and families.”