The Timbuktu Institute in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation presented its report on the security situation in the Kédougou region, in south-eastern Senegal, a border area between Mali and Guinea, on 27 May 27 May.
as reported from Dakar, Charlotte idrac
The “battle for the east” will take place, and we must prepare for it. Geographical boundary and out-of-center location, uneven distribution of mineral wealth, proliferation of explosives used in gold mines or even defective basic infrastructure … The study by the Timbuktu Institute reports a “cocktail of risk factors” in the Kédougou region. To its authors, “socio-economic frustrations seem to be the main cause of radicalization.”
The report shows that in 2019 and 2020 “the number of arrests of individuals, mainly of foreign origin, with explosives has increased worryingly” in the area.
The paradox is that a large majority of those surveyed – 85% – say they “feel safe”. 65% say “they are not affected by the Malian crisis”.
“Senegal has always been presented as an island of stability in a sea of instability,” explains Bakary Sambe, head of Timbuktu Institute. This lack of awareness among the population also shows a lack of awareness from the Senegalese state, which over the last ten years has gone from denying this reality to a gradual awareness recently. Senegal must move forward with the implementation of an adopted preventive policy, knowing that this highly acclaimed exception is not sustainable if we do not build resilience. “
The researchers recommend, among other things, a better organization of mining and the training of religious and customary leaders in matters of cross-border conflicts. During the presentation of the report, the representative of the Ministry of the Interior, Alpha Diallo, insisted on the cooperation of the population in matters of intelligence.
[Reportage] The people of Kédougou face the security risk
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