"Our dead have no more room": A human tide in Rufisque demands the immediate expansion of the cemetery

Faced with the critical overcrowding of the city's cemeteries, the Initiative Committee for the Expansion of the Dangou Cemetery and community leaders in Rufisque took to the streets. They are demanding that the President of the Republic quickly sign an expropriation decree for reasons of public utility in order to preserve the last remaining final resting places.

The situation has reached an untenable point. This weekend, the city of Rufisque was the scene of a strong community mobilization. Led by Gorgui Cissé, the secretary general of the initiative committee, and supported by all the imams, religious dignitaries, traditional authorities, and community organizations, the local population expressed its deep exasperation at the land scarcity affecting burial sites.

The historic cemeteries of Thiawlène and Djockoul have been full for a long time. Faced with this chronic lack of space, families find themselves in a bind, especially since the Dangou site, which receives deceased from all over the department and beyond (Keur Massar, Thiès, etc.), is suffering the full force of this overcrowding.

“The Thiawlène cemetery is full, as is the Djockoul cemetery. The only land reserve adjacent to our cemetery is an opportunity we must seize. And we are not ready to give up on this,” Gorgui Cissé insisted to the crowd.

An urgent appeal to the head of state

Despite the administrative steps taken with local and national authorities, residents deplore what they consider a damaging inaction. This is why the local community is now placing all its hopes on the highest levels of government.

The protesters are directly appealing to the President of the Republic, the only person authorized to sign the decree expropriating the land adjacent to the current cemetery for reasons of public utility. For the residents and imams, there is no longer any question of tolerating this deficiency: the expansion of the Dangou cemetery is the only sustainable alternative to guarantee citizens a dignified burial.

The widespread mobilization of this gathering proves, if proof were needed, that the issue extends beyond the Dangou neighborhood to encompass the entire Rufisque department. The organizers commended the professionalism of the security forces and the support of the media, while reaffirming their rallying cry: the struggle will not end until this project, vital for human dignity, is realized.