According to Les Échos, Dr. Cheikh Dieng’s Fepp Tawfekh party strongly criticized the current management of sanitation policies, marked by institutional “cacophony”. In a statement, the political party expressed solidarity with the populations affected by the recent floods, especially in the suburbs of Dakar, some municipalities in the department of Dakar, and the holy city of Touba.
While praising the commitment of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Fepp Tawfekh emphasizes that the effectiveness and efficiency of sanitation policies are hindered by the disorderly intervention of several state bodies and authorities (Onas, Ageroute, Promoville, Adm, Apix, etc.), often without overall coherence or respect for standards. For the party, this situation results in considerable financial prejudice and neglects the maintenance of infrastructure.
The Political Bureau, recently convened, recalls Cheikh Dieng’s proposal, made as early as May 2024, to reorganize sanitation governance. It calls for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder scientific committee to develop a comprehensive and shared strategic plan to combat floods. Fepp Tawfekh also suggests a roundtable of donors and international partners to activate Climate Funds and other financial mechanisms, while mobilizing internal resources, particularly through carbon credits.
Regarding Touba, the party proposes a pilot project for pivot irrigation on the retention basins of Keur Niang and Darou Rahmane. This system, it explains, would allow stagnant water to be used for agriculture and green spaces, reducing health risks while offering a replicable model in other vulnerable areas.
Finally, Fepp Tawfekh calls for an audit of the 750 billion CFA francs from the ten-year flood control plan, which it suspects may have been diverted by “sanitation lobbies”. The party also warns of the risks of flooding from the Senegal and Gambia rivers, urging the government to activate contingency plans now to avoid resorting to Orsec plans, which are considered prone to abuse.