Partner: National Council for Rural Dialogue and Cooperation (CNCR), Senegal
By Aliou Demba Kebe
The Falémé river was dying. As the main tributary of the Senegal River along the Mali border, it was the victim of uncontrolled semi-mechanised mining. The river was being suffocated by pollution, mercury, deforestation, and illegal roads dug into its bed. It was a looming ecological disaster with deep human, social, and security consequences for thousands of people.
Faced with this urgency, a unique citizens’ movement emerged. Driven by the CNCR (National Council for Rural Dialogue and Cooperation), a dialogue platform was created to bring together local communities, farmer leaders, environmental organisations, and regional facilitators. With timely training in conflict prevention and advocacy, these actors got ready to act collectively.
The establishment of regional consultation frameworks marked a turning point. Through these platforms, rural voices were heard, community testimonies collected, and violations documented. This coordinated, on-the-ground work confronted local and national authorities with the harsh reality experienced by riverside populations.
This structured mobilisation led to the creation of a Falémé Survival Alert Committee. Amplified by strong media coverage, it enabled regional civil society, with the discreet yet effective support from PeaceNexus, to bring community voices all the way to the top of the state.
On July 18, 2024, this collective momentum paid off: the Senegalese government adopted a decree suspending all mining activity in the Falémé zone for three years. A historic victory, achieved not through confrontation, but through consultation.
But the efforts don’t stop there. The CNCR and its partners, notably CRAFS that works on land tenure, continue their commitment to ecological rehabilitation of the river, decontamination, strengthening legal frameworks, and ensuring the sustainable inclusion of local communities in mining governance. A cross-border dialogue with Mali is also underway, laying the groundwork for joint river management.
This is the story of a model for change rooted in dialogue and citizen mobilisation. Thanks to them, the Falémé is breathing again.
PeaceNexus has provided business engagement support to CNCR since 2021.
