Casamance: The UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa hails an "inclusive renaissance" led by women

On his first visit to Senegal since taking office, Dr. Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa, expressed his satisfaction at the end of his four-day visit to Casamance. Three key aspects marked his stay: institutional collaboration between the central government, local authorities, and civil society; the programmatic scope of initiatives integrating social, economic, and political aspects; and finally, the need to share the achievements so that local successes can inspire other regions of Senegal and neighboring countries such as The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

The regional director highlighted the work of rural women, particularly widows who cultivate hectares of farmland and reinvest their income in education, health, and community financing. These initiatives, he said, embody UN Women's vision: to support government actions and strengthen women's involvement in decision-making.

The visit concluded at the Kullimaaroo (Rainbow) center, dedicated to vulnerable people. Supported by UN Women through technical, financial, and material assistance, this center exemplifies the organization's mission: to empower women not only physically but also intellectually, so that they become agents of the social and economic revitalization of Casamance. "We saw young women who succeeded brilliantly after having failed miserably, not through any fault of their own, but because of the weaknesses of the community and the family," he emphasized.

Originally from Benin, Dr. Houinato emphasized the value of local traditions: “The successes we see here in Casamance aren’t just about hardware, they’re also about software. And this software comes from our traditions, from our culture.” For him, it is up to the sons and daughters of Casamance to preserve the benefits of their cultural practices while addressing their shortcomings, in order to build an inclusive and resilient society.