Senegal invests $45 mln to ward off power crisis
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Diadie Ba
DAKAR, May 21 (Reuters) - Senegal is pumping some $45
million in emergency funding into its state-run electricity
company so it can buy fuel to stave off a looming power crisis,
government officials said on Monday.
Energy sector sources said last week the former French
colony had a maximum of eight days’ fuel left to run its power
plants, meaning recent power cuts — some already lasting up to
10 hours a day — could reach "unprecedented" levels.
State electricity firm Senelec, hit by a cash crunch caused
by rising consumption and high fuel prices, owes local oil
companies more than 20 billion CFA francs ($41 million) and they
have said they will only deliver if paid up front.
"On the orders of the President, the state has injected 22
billion CFA francs ($45 million) into Senelec," the country’s
new energy minister, Samuel Sarr, told local radio.
"We have issued a 12 billion CFA guarantee to the fuel
companies so that Senelec can buy supplies 60 days in advance
rather than cash in hand," he said.
Power shortages across the Sahelian country of 11 million
people have steadily increased in recent years, tarnishing its
image as one of West Africa’s most developed states and
disrupting businesses unable to afford their own generators.
Blackouts tend to worsen during the steamy June-October
rainy season, when energy consumption climbs dramatically due to
widespread use of air conditioning in cities.
Officials said they were confident a crisis could be
averted.
"We are expecting 65,000 tonnes of fuel to be delivered
between May 20-25," Carmello Sagna, permanent secretary of
Senegal’s national hydrocarbons committee, told Reuters.
Last September, Senegal, which has no crude oil production
of its own, ordered oil firms including Royal Dutch Shell
(RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research to sell their
stocks of diesel to Senelec to run its oil-fired power stations.
Like many African countries, Senegal has suffered long-term
underinvestment and neglect of its power infrastructure,
hampering economic development despite being one of the region’s
most stable democracies since independence from France in 1960.
President Abdoulaye Wade, re-elected in February for a
5-year term in polls dismissed by opponents as flawed, has
ambitious plans to overhaul the country’s power infrastructure,
including building a nuclear power plant.
"The president is committed by the end of his term to ending
power cuts," Sarr said.
Senegal facing “unprecedented” power cuts- sources
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Diadie Ba
DAKAR, May 17 (Reuters) - A wave of power cuts in Senegal could
reach "unprecedented" levels as the West African state has a maximum of
eight days of fuel left to run its power plants, energy sector sources
said on Thursday. Power shortages across the poor country of 11 million
people have steadily increased in recent years due to rising
consumption, high fuel prices and a cash crunch at the state-run
electricity company, Senelec.
Many neighbourhoods of the breezy coastal capital Dakar have
recently suffered 10-hour power cuts several times a week, disrupting
local businesses unable to afford their own generators and undermining
Senegal’s image as one of West Africa’s most developed countries.
Blackouts tend to worsen during the steamy June-October rainy
season, when energy use climbs dramatically due to air conditioning
while the wet weather hampers infrastructure.
"There is only enough fuel to cover eight days of consumption in
the country," a senior energy sector executive, who asked not to be
identified, told Reuters.
"We have crossed the red line. If an urgent measure is not taken in
the coming hours, Senegal will face unprecedented power cuts."
Senegalese officials declined to comment on the issue.
However, other energy sector sources said fuel supplies would not
cover even eight days. A Senelec official, who asked not to be
identified, said the "situation is really worrying".
Last September, Senegal, which has no crude oil production of its
own, ordered oil firms including Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Exxon
Mobil to sell their stocks of diesel to Senelec to run its oil-fired
power stations.
Like many African countries, Senegal has suffered long-term
underinvestment and neglect of its power infrastructure, hampering its
economic development despite one of the region’s most stable
democracies since independence from France in 1960.
President Abdoulaye Wade, re-elected in February at polls dismissed
by opponents as flawed, has contacted foreign experts to advise on
building a nuclear power plant — part of an ambitious programme to
overhaul the country’s infrastructure.
Together with Guinea, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, Senegal is also
planning two hydro-electric power plants on the Gambia river, which
would enter operation by 2012.
Wade has called on oil companies to invest more in fighting poverty
in Africa. Senelec owes local oil companies more than 20 billion CFA
francs ($41.24 million) and they will now only deliver if paid in cash.
"The company (Senelec) has to buy fuel in cash from oil companies,"
said Daniel Sarr, union leader at Senelec. "This is unacceptable. We
need fuel to be given to us and we pay later."
Senegal: seven teachers injured by police
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The
teachers were on the way home from a general meeting that had been held
in the state capital Ziguinchor when they were attacked by police.
The
teachers who are currently involved in a dispute over pay and
conditions had asked for authorisation for a march. This request was
denied by the state governor. The teachers met in the town and held a
general assembly (AG) they agreed on a protest motion that was to be
passed to the governor but he refused to enter into any contact with
them. It was then agreed by the AG that the demonstrators would
disperse.
It was at this point that a group of female teachers were targeted
by police. Seven of them, including a pregnant woman, were injured by
police batons. One of the women had to be evacuated to hospital in a
serious condition.
The Senegalese police and military have been accused of intimidating
and harassing teachers over the last few months with many incidents
being reported.
Officially the visit of the Prime Minister led to the banning of the
march for security reasons. The inter-union committee pointed out that
the Prime Minister is currently campaigning for the June 3rd elections.
As a sign of solidarity with their colleagues teachers have announced
that they will not help to supervise the ballot.
Senegal Low-Income Workers Open Bank Accounts
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar 19 May 2007 |
Schwarz report - Download 1.6MB
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In the West African nation of Senegal, In a Since she is not working now, she has been spending from her savings. But ever since the 25-year-old came to Dakar from her family’s village and began working, she has been putting aside a Two years ago, with the help of her boss, Seck opened an account at one of Senegal’s commercial banks. Seck’s boss advanced to her and three co-workers the 150-dollar necessary papers. Seck goes to a small bedside cabinet and pulls out a simple wooden box with a lock. She unlocks the box and takes out the papers, explaining that before She says she told only her brothers and sisters about the bank Seck says the bank takes money out of her account for various fees. Seck says the bank also debits just over two dollars every three months for maintenance costs. But Despite Seck’s story, most Senegalese do not have bank accounts. Oumar Diene, of the Senegalese non-governmental organization CRESP, He says that banks are directing their marketing campaigns at But obstacles are still keeping many Senegalese from opening accounts. Mohammed Wilson, a director at Senegal’s CBAO bank, says one But even for those who are interested in bank accounts, the minimum Since so many businesses rely on cash transactions, Wilson says his
fewer than 10 per cent of people have accounts at traditional banks.
Such accounts have traditionally been seen as only for the very rich.
But a growing network of branches extending into more remote areas
means that more people than before have access to banks. Naomi Schwarz
visited on the outskirts of Dakar with a new mother who has a savings
account.
Margot Seck
one-room apartment on the outskirts of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, Margot
Seck is cooking lunch on her small balcony. She is using her short
maternity leave from her job as a cashier to set up the apartment.
small portion of her paycheck for just such an occasion. "When I was
paid my salary, I would spend what I needed, and I would bring the rest
to the corner shopkeeper to hold on to for me," she says.
minimum deposit the bank required, and she helped them acquire the
she moved in with her husband, she shared a room with many single
cousins, and the locked box was needed to keep her finances private.
account, and just recently, her husband. "Ah, when you say that you
have an account, people will think that you have a lot of money, even
though it is nothing."
"The first month, they took out 10 dollars. We were shocked, why did
they take out this ten dollars. When we went to the bank, they told us
it was for insurance," she says.
Some Senegalese save money at corner shops like this one
despite these costs, she says the bank account has helped her save more
money than before. "In the house, it is no good, because you can spend
the money. At the boutique it was better, but when you have problems,
you can go straight to the boutique and take the money. But when it is
at the bank, sometimes you are slower to withdraw your savings," she
says.
says this may be changing. "We have the impression that these days,
there is an accent on potential clients who, until now, have not been
taken into account by the big banks," he says.
university students, many of whom have little or no income. He also
notes the increasing number of bank branches across the country.
obstacle is a culture that prefers cash transactions. He says
Senegalese are wary of entrusting their money to someone else, and they
are unfamiliar with how banks work.
deposit can seem overwhelming, especially for non-salaried workers
whose income varies from week to week. Wilson says the minimum deposit
is required for the banks to cover their operating costs. He says if
more people had bank accounts, the banks would be able to reduce the
minimum deposit and also the fees.
branches must be prepared for large cash withdrawals. This would be
less of a burden if more people had accounts, and money could change
hands invisibly, through checks.
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Brazil and Senegal sign biofuel agreement
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
BRASILIA, Brazil:
The presidents of Brazil and Senegal on Wednesday signed an agreement
opening the way for the production and use of biofuels in Senegal and
in the rest of Africa.
"Biofuels will provoke a revolution in Africa," Senegal’s leader
Abdoulaye Wade said in a speech after the meeting. "The entire
(African) continent wants to explore all possibilities … to become a
major biofuel supplier."
The agreement was one of three signed by Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva and his guest, who is on a two-day visit to Latin America’s
biggest country.
"We have abundant, clean and cheap sources of energy," Silva said in
a speech. "Under Senegal’s leadership, we want to take this initiative
to other African nations that do not produce oil."
Brazil is the world’s No. 1 sugar producer and exporter, and the
leading exporter of ethanol made from sugarcane. It also is the world’s
second-largest ethanol producer after the United States, and is ramping
up production of soybean-based biodiesel.
Today in Business
Brazilian ethanol makers produced 17 billion liters (4.5 billion
gallons) last year, and exported 3.4 billion liters (900 million
gallons).
Rival rebel factions clash in Senegal
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Rival factions among Senegal’s former rebels have been fighting for
the last two weeks in the southern Casamance region near the border
with Gambia, military sources said Monday.
Former members of the
Movement of Casamance Democratic Forces (MFDC) had been fighting near
Ziguinchor, the main town in the Casamance region, said a source close
to the army there.
"Some village populations in this zone have taken refuge in neighbouring Gambia for their own safety," he said.
The Senegalese army itself had not been involved in the fighting, he added.
Sources
close to the factions involved confirmed the fighting and said there
had been dead and wounded on both sides, without giving details.
The
violence appears to be between the supporters of Salif Sadio on one
side, and of Cesar Atoute Badiate and Antoine Diamacoune on the other.
Sadio reportedly opposed the December 2004 peace deal that was supposed to have ended the MFDC’s separatist struggle.
MFDC secretary general Jean-Marie François Biagui denounced the fighting in an interview Monday.
The
southern part of Senegal was for years the scene of insurgency by the
separatist Movement of Casamance Democratic Forces (MFDC), fighting for
the independence of the agriculturally rich Casamance region.
The
rebels signed a peace accord with Dakar in December 2004, but there
have since been occasional clashes involving either MFDC dissidents or
former rebels who have turned to banditry.
Ziguinchor is situated
about 480 kilometres (300 miles) south of Dakar. The Casamance region
is largely geographically separated from the north of Senegal by
Gambia, a former British-ruled enclave in French West Africa.
Civilians Flee Renewed Violence in Northern Senegal
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar 14 May 2007 |
Hennessy report - Download (mp3) 524k
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Civilians from the northern Casamance Local He has spoken with many people who are fleeing because they say the situation is too dangerous. "I just spoke to a woman who just came from Balaye, she said that He says many people seem scared and exhausted, and will have to make long journeys to find safety. "The lady I spoke to was quite helpless, because I just saw her with Robert Reeve, an analyst at the British research organization "There are about 6,000 Senegalese refugees from Casamance in Gambia According to Rebels have been fighting for more autonomy in Casamance which Main rebel leaders signed a peace accord with Senegal’s government The recent killings of several Senegalese government officials in the Casamance region remain unsolved.
region of Senegal are being displaced again, following renewed fighting
between rebel groups. Hundreds of people are reported to have fled to
the nearby Gambian border region to find safety. Selah Hennessy reports
from the VOA West Africa bureau in Dakar.
Senegal
journalist Alpha Jallow has seen hundreds of villagers from northern
Casamance fleeing the region during the past few days. He says they are
going to the Gambian border region, where they hope to find protection
with the Red Cross or with family members already living in villages
there.
there are still firing gunshot fire, they are hearing sporadic gunshot
fire everywhere and because they know the situation is quite dangerous
they decided to flee," said Alpha Jallow.
her two children and then she was quite tired, quite disfigured,
because she said she has to walk for a very long distance before she
can get transport that will bring her to Bidgornam," he said. "She also
said that in Bidgorna she is going to stay with family members until
things calm down."
Chatham House, says going to the Gambia is a common destination for
displaced civilians from the Casamance region.
most of the time, but you get a few thousand more coming and going from
the northern area which has been the most active combat zone for the
past year or so," said Robert Reeve.
Jallow, the local journalist, rebel factions are competing for
territory in the region. He says an alliance of rebel groups are
fighting the hard-line wing of the Movement for Democratic Forces in
the Casamance, led by Salif Sadio. The breakaway rebel factions claim
Sadio’s group is terrorizing the local population and taking over local
business.
borders both the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, since the early 1980’s, but
there have been increasing splits within their movement.
in 2004, but fighting never completely ended. Some rebels never agreed
to the talks.
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Senegal goes to polls without major opposition
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
afrol News, 15 May - Senegalese
voters are expected to return to the polls to elect their lawmakers on
3 June. But the polls will go on without the country’s major opposition
parties who are still crying foul over the conduct of the 25 February
Presidential polls, which ushered in the incumbent President Abdoulaye
Wade to power with over 55 percent of the valid votes.
Parties
of the Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, have
been campaigning for boycott of the polls. Mr Seck, the former Prime
Minister, ranked second in the Presidential polls while Mr Dieng who
heads the former ruling Parti Socialiste third.
While the core of the opposition complained of voter irregularities
during the last President polls, international observers maintained
that they were free and fair.
Official campaign for the June elections kicked off at the weekend. But
it is still unclear whether the elections will take place as planned
because the boycotting opposition filed an official complaint with the
State Council.
Opposition parties said Mr Wade’s failure to change the electoral
process – revision of voter list and creation of an independent
structure that replaces the electoral commission whose officials are
appointed by the President. They also campaigned for the sacking of
Ousmane Ngom, the Interior Minister.
Over 4,000 candidates, including those from 14 opposition parties are
fighting for 150 seats. The ruling party of Mr Wade is expected to
sweep the polls with an overwhelming majority. After casting his vote
on 25 February, President Wade told the press, “door dorat”, Wollof
words meaning “I will win and win”. He was confident of winning both
the Presidential and legislative elections.
Senegal is undoubtedly one of African countries endowed with several
years of uninterrupted democracy. Though it finds itself in a volatile
region, Senegal is yet to experience coups or countercoups.
By staff writer
© afrol News
Parties to boycott Senegal’s legislative poll
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dakar - Campaigning began on Sunday for Senegal’s upcoming legislative
election in a vote expected to be anticlimactic because main opposition
groups have pledged to boycott.
About 15 parties have announced plans to boycott the election over
President Abdoulaye Wade’s refusal to change the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have called for the voter list to be revised and the
creation of an independent structure to replace the
government-appointed electoral commission.
There is also a risk that the June 3 election will be postponed since
the Socialist Party, part of the opposition, has filed a complaint with
the State Council that could lead to their delay.
More than 4 000 candidates will vie for 150 seats, said Macoumba Koume, an official with the electoral commission.
On Sunday evening, messages from candidates from 14 parties and coalitions competing in the election were to be broadcast.
Among those who have said they would take part in the boycott are
Idrissa Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, who came
second, third and fourth respectively in February’s presidential
elections, which Wade won with 55.9 percent of the vote. - Sapa-AFP
Campaigns begin in Senegal legislative election amid uncertainty
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Campaigning began on Sunday for Senegal’s upcoming legislative
election in a vote expected to be anticlimactic because main opposition
groups have pledged to boycott.
Some 15 parties have announced
plans to boycott the election over President Abdoulaye Wade’s refusal
to change the electoral process.
Opposition leaders have called
for the voter list to be revised and the creation of an independent
structure to replace the government-appointed electoral commission.
There
is also a risk that the June 3 election will be postponed since the
Socialist Party, part of the opposition, has filed a complaint with the
State Council that could lead to their delay.
More than 4,000 candidates will vie for 150 seats, said Macoumba Koume, an official with the electoral commission.
On Sunday evening, messages from candidates from 14 parties and coalitions competing in the election were to be broadcast.
Among
those who have said they would take part in the boycott are Idrissa
Seck, Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Moustapha Niasse, who came second, third
and fourth respectively in February’s presidential elections, which
Wade won with 55.9 percent of the vote.
