Plaquette : Making the Senegal river navigable - IAGF 6ème session

~~ ~~~ ~==] ._:B-=.~~~ The river remains unnavigable The river has always been one of the trade links between West Africa and the regions of North Africa, and between Europe and Asia Minor. Navigation reached its zenith at the beginning of the 20 th century w ith 125,000 tonnes being transported on the river every year. Groundnuts, cotton and food crops were transported along the whole valley for export. Navigation slumped due to the severe drought which lasted from 1970 to 1973, considerably reduced the river's flow regime and caused several sills (obstacles) to emerge. Poor maintenance of the river bed with a lack of c1eaning and dredging further worsened the situation. ln order for the river to recover its role in the economic development of the neighbouring countries, the OMVS has studied the navigation project since its inception in 1972 and has carried out a large number of studies. The ecosystem of the basin has been weakened by desertification and the rural exodus. River transport can open up new economic perspectives and help to sustain existing popu lations on t he river's banks and bring back those that have left. 7.6 million people currently live in the basin, i.e. 15% of the total population of the four member States of the OMVS. For Mansour Faye, the navigation project w ill give Saint-Louis new means to ensure its outreach and development. million people live in the basin i.e. of the total population of the four member States of the ü MVS. The whole economic environment will be transformed with the fishing, craft and industria1port, c/osely linked ta the city, the cargo port, the marina and the mineraI terminal. Hope is therefore allowed. The river is an interesting route for transporting minerai ore, as recalled by Hamed Semega : phosphates at Bofal (Mauritania) and Matam (Seneqal) and iron and bauxite mines in Senega l and Mali. It wi ll also serve and provide access to isolated areas w ith substantial agricultural potential and encourage existing businesses to produce more. 11