Africa-Press – Senegal. The eviction operation carried out overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday by the administrative authorities at the Liberté 6 crossroads, to clear the way for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dakar, left many merchants ambulances in disarray, found the APS.
The din of bulldozers and the shrill noise of cars are added to the cries of agents of SONAGED, the National Society for Integrated Waste Management, who are cleaning up the intersection in the blistering heat.
Who is used to frequenting this large roundabout in Dakar knows that its decor has changed significantly. Cars, aprons, canteens and other businesses that obstructed the way were razed during the night.
A few peddlers sit inside a makeshift canteen near the bridge under construction over the crossroads. We hear their voices from afar. The eviction operation carried out overnight is on everyone’s lips.
« We had our canteens here. [The administrative authorities] came with bulldozers to force us to leave. Without telling us. We spent the night here, not knowing where to go with our luggage, » says Modou Ndiaye, looking sad.
Abdoulaye Cissé is one of the street vendors operating near this crossroads where various goods are sold. He has been earning his living here for fifteen years.
Mr. Cissé regrets having been « lately » informed of the decluttering operation. « The least we had to do was to warn us, well before this operation, so that we could make our arrangements, » he complains.
« The State must find us a resettlement site, to allow us to continue our activities, » he hastened to say.
« Where are we going to settle with our goods? » asks Babacar Sylla, a tiler converted to small business.
According to the prefect of Dakar, Mor Talla Tine, the decluttering operation was carried out with the aim of clearing the route of the BRT, a mass transport infrastructure whose commissioning is scheduled for next December.
The governor of Dakar issued an order announcing the decluttering of the Liberté 6 crossroads, Mr. Tine said.
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