Tambacounda holds his breath. On the occasion of the official visit of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Tambacounda, expectations are immense. Between the university projects, the challenge of the dry port and the industrial revival, the natural region of eastern Senegal is hoping for strong announcements. Bounama Kanté, coordinator of the Synergy of Citizen Action for the construction of the University of Eastern Senegal (Sac-Uso) and local figure, takes stock of the situation for us and challenges the Head of State on an absolute priority: the effective opening date of the university.
You coordinate Sac-Uso, and the President is going to visit the university construction site. Is this the ideal opportunity to remind him of his commitments?
Minister Déthié Fall was recently on tour in the region. As a scout, he visited the site and instructed the company in charge of the project to accelerate the pace, because only eight months separate us from receipt of the infrastructure. The minister had specified that the President would come himself to see the progress of the work. Now that this visit is official, we expect the Head of State to solemnly announce the date of the effective start of the courses. The minister noted a progress rate of more than 80%, and the contractor is committed to delivering the work on time. The only announcement capable of making an impression and rallying populations is that of the opening of teaching. It would be the crowning achievement of several years of struggle for Sac-Uso.
Given the state of the work, is a start realistic for the next school year?
For now, we are relying on the contractor’s commitments. In front of the minister, he promised delivery by the due date. On the ground, all the buildings have emerged from the ground and are in a terminal phase; All that remains is the finishing touches. However, Déthié Fall recalled that the major works, although 80% complete, do not necessarily constitute the most complex part. The entrepreneur is aware of this, but sets one condition: the smooth delivery of materials from the Port of Dakar. If the logistics follow, the teams will be able to finalize the work on time. What is visible today is reassuring. This is why the presidential visit will be decisive: everything must be done to welcome the first cohort of students from the next school year.
Apart from the university, what other files are expected for the development of eastern Senegal?
We are waiting for President Diomaye Faye to unlock the region’s potential by providing the means necessary for its exploitation. Eastern Senegal is full of opportunities and will become the locomotive of national growth if supported. Several levers are identified. First, the railway: its revival will bring new life to the localities along the route thanks to peripheral economic activities. Then, the dry port of Tambacounda is an emergency. In addition to relieving traffic congestion and reducing accidents on the corridor, it will generate numerous jobs. The President must accelerate its implementation.
Access to health is also a crucial issue. Tambacounda, a crossroads town, needs a level 4 hospital. Currently, the regional hospital absorbs patients from five departments and neighboring countries (Gambia, Guinea). It is a “high priority”, just like the modernization of departmental health structures. On the education side, the laying of the first stone of Isep in Salémata is an excellent initiative for the training of young people. Finally, Sodefitex, the flagship of the region, must be restructured. Upgrading its textile dimension would create jobs and boost the local and national economy.
