In Senegal, rapid population growth, the development of agri-food industries, and uncontrolled urbanization have placed considerable pressure on land resources. The race to acquire land has become a thriving business, attracting intense interest from a wide range of stakeholders.

In its report published in April 2017, the National Commission for Land Reform, which was dissolved that same year, raised the alarm, stating that “land conflicts are characterized by their multiplicity, diversity, and varying levels of intensity, as well as by the different factors that trigger them.”

Managing these conflicts is complex and delicate, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, where statutory laws coexist in practice with deeply rooted customary traditions.

Unsurprisingly, these disputes have led to numerous confrontations arising from competing claims of legitimacy and conflicting rights, in both urban and rural areas. This situation is underscored by former President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, who stated that more than 90% of the alerts he receives regarding potential conflicts relate to land issues.