Meeting in Dakar on Thursday, the National Flood Management Committee (CNGI), chaired by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, took stock of the 2024 wintering and outlined the main points of the sanitation projects and works planned for the years to come.
In his introductory speech, the minister notably recalled the scale of the challenges encountered during this year’s wintering. “With exceptional rainfall reaching 100 mm and devastating floods, we faced significant damage in several localities, including Bakel, Kédougou, and Saint-Louis,” he said.
In addition to material losses, the floods caused disruptions to basic services such as water and electricity, as well as obstacles to mobility. In this context, emergency measures, such as food distribution and the fight against waterborne diseases, were implemented.
According to Mr. Dieye, these bad weather conditions led the government to mobilise 8 billion FCFA to support the disaster-stricken populations.
The minister praised the success of the “Setal Sunu Reew (clean up our country, in the Wolof language)” initiative, which mobilised, according to him, nearly 41,000 citizens throughout the country. This operation made it possible to clean more than 50,000 meters of sewerage networks and to beautify 550 public places. “Thanks to this
citizen momentum, we have seen a reduction in flooding in several areas,” he said.
Towards a new strategy for 2025-2029
Looking ahead to the coming years, the CNGI highlighted the importance of more resilient and sustainable flood management. Among the key recommendations, the minister stressed the need to “develop a national strategy integrating climate challenges, innovative financing and the involvement of grassroots communities.”
The action plan developed by the National Flood Management Committee (CNGI) is structured around several strategic axes intended to strengthen resilience to flooding. In particular, it provides for the construction of dikes to protect habitable areas and the resettlement of populations living in at-risk areas.
A revision of the texts governing the CNGI is also envisaged in order to strengthen its prerogatives in terms of coordination and pooling of efforts. In addition, particular attention will be paid to improving climate forecasting systems and mapping flood zones, essential tools for anticipating crises and better protecting populations.
Finally, the plan focuses on promoting the circular economy through the recovery of rainwater, which could be used in particular for agricultural irrigation, thus contributing to more sustainable and innovative management of water resources.
The minister stressed the need to coordinate these efforts with the Senegal 2050 framework. This strategic framework emphasises planning based on efficiency, innovation and sustainability. “We must change our behaviors and invest in strategies that anticipate the challenges of climate change,” he argued.
Cheikh Tidiane Dieye congratulated all the actors involved, whether operational structures, local authorities or citizens. “Thanks to this collaboration, we have been able to reduce the vulnerability of populations and lay the foundations for more effective flood management,” he concluded.
ARD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA