Saly: Authorities are accelerating the clearing and beautification process ahead of the Youth Olympic Games.

With the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) approaching, administrative authorities are redoubling their efforts to improve living conditions and clear public spaces that have been occupied haphazardly. Since Friday, several operations to clear obstructions, remove abandoned vehicles, and evict squatters have been underway.

According to the sub-prefect of Sindia, El Hadj Djiby Bocoum, these operations should allow for the sustainable recovery of public spaces and prepare for their beautification.

"The immediate consequence is that public spaces that were formerly occupied illegally and chaotically are now freed up," explains El Hadj Djiby Bocoum.

These spaces must then be developed in a way that, beyond the Youth Olympic Games, should provide lasting benefits to the population, insists the sub-prefect.

The gains from decluttering must be preserved

The Saly intersection up to Bienvenue is one of the points targeted by the operations. A few months ago, the authorities had already undertaken traffic clearing operations in this area.

The sub-prefect commends the work of the police, which prevented the occupants from being resettled.

"Since then, the occupants have not been able to reinstall their canteens and stalls. And that is thanks to the cooperation of the police," he emphasizes.

For Mr. Bocoum, however, securing the liberated areas should not rely solely on the security forces and administrative authorities. It must also involve the local population.

The sub-prefect is therefore calling on the population to take ownership of the efforts undertaken to improve their environment.

In his view, the local populations are directly affected by these operations since it primarily concerns their living environment. They must therefore participate in preserving the cleared spaces and prevent their reoccupation.

"What is unfortunate is that everything is expected from the State, everything is expected from the police, everything is expected from the administrative authorities. The people also have a very important role to play. At the end of the day, it is they, the people, who will benefit the most from the situation," he said.

Work is accelerating.

The schedule is particularly tight with the Youth Olympic Games approaching. Authorities have therefore intensified operations. After the removal of the wrecks, Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to the cleanup operations.

These interventions should continue until their completion in the coming days. Following this, the urban planning department should begin beautification operations as early as next week.

Regarding roadworks, Ageroute is also continuing the necessary work. The sub-prefect acknowledges, however, that there has been a delay, while expressing hope that the work will be completed in the coming days.

The authorities are working hard to ensure that Saly is fully prepared to host the Youth Olympic Games in better conditions, but above all to ensure that these actions are sustainable so that the public spaces freed up and developed do not fall back into anarchic occupation.