Senegal: maritime traffic resumes in Dakar, after a closure due to Covid-19
Audio 01:22
The Diambogne ferry at the port of Dakar, ready to leave after six months of shutdown linked to Covid-19.
RFI / Charlotte Idrac
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
It left for the maritime links between Dakar and Ziguinchor, in the south of the country.
They had been suspended since March, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A first boat left Dakar this Tuesday evening September 22, direction Casamance.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
“
It is a pleasure to take control of this boat again.
It's an important day
, ”said Sarr, the commander of Diambogne, at his post.
It is also a relief for passengers and traders alike: the land border remains closed with The Gambia for individuals, so they had to make a long and expensive journey by road in recent months.
For this first departure after a closure due
to the coronavirus,
the boat is full with a total of 206 passengers.
The mask is compulsory on board.
For them, the six-month suspension was a long one.
"
We are very, very happy
", testifies one of the passengers.
Apart from the plane
, until now, it was necessary to take the so-called “
bypass
” road, via Tambacounda, or nearly 900 km.
“
The bypass was difficult, we were very, very tired!
And the cost was very expensive, we couldn't manage… We were very impatient for it to start,
”she adds.
Another passenger is also delighted with the recovery: “
We missed it!
It's better, it's more comfortable!
".
Food freight
In the hold all kinds of goods are stored, from potatoes to spare parts.
This recovery will also promote the revival of economic activity in Casamance.
“
Freight is very important, especially food freight,”
says Abou Salam Kane, operations manager of Cosama, the Senegalese consortium of maritime activities which provides the link.
With this pandemic, we even noticed that there were shelves that were empty and businesses that had closed.
So in two weeks, we will do a stage evaluation to see if the health measures taken have been effective.
At the moment, we have reinforced with the second ship
.
"
The recovery remains gradual, however, with two rotations per week instead of four before the pandemic.
►
To read also: Coronavirus in Senegal: new lifting of restrictions in public transport
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