Floods in Senegal: an emergency meeting called at the presidential palace

Many homes in Dakar are underwater near heavy rains in Senegal, September 6, 2020. REUTERS / Zohra Bensemra

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Senegal, the authorities were questioned about the management of floods.

The torrential rains last weekend caused a lot of damage and almost every part of the country was affected.

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With our correspondent in Dakar

,

Charlotte Idrac

The meeting took place around President Macky Sall, with in particular the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, to take

stock of the results of the flood last weekend

, and assess the ten-year flood control plan.

This plan, launched by President Macky Sall himself upon his installation for the period 2012-2022, involves an amount of nearly 767 billion CFA francs, according to the secretary general of the presidency, or more than one billion francs. 'euros.

The question posed by the affected populations

, and certain opposition leaders, is to know what this money was used for?

Former Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye accuses.

According to him, this amount " 

was never spent

 ", and " 

the floods ceased to be a priority

 " after his departure from the government.

The Jotna Coalition / the Patriots for the Alternative of Ousmane Sonko calls for the creation of a budget control device that will be allocated to relief, to avoid any misappropriation by " 

a pumping mafia

 ".

"

Exceptional

"

rains

for the executive

For its part, the executive defends itself.

In a forum, the spokesperson for President Abdou Latif Coulibaly explains that the rains last weekend were " 

exceptional

 ".

The secretary general of the presidency points to " 

climatic disturbances

 " and ensures that the work already carried out, for drainage, water catchment, sanitation, has made it possible to limit the damage.

For now, the government is trying to deal with the emergency.

The Minister of the Interior announced on Monday additional means for pumping water in the flooded areas.

According to Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, six rain-related deaths have been recorded so far.

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  • Senegal

  • Water

  • Natural disasters

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