The eastern regions of Senegal, which border on Mali and Mauritania, face socio-economic, security and climatic challenges that could have an impact on community resilience. Strengthening community resilience is therefore becoming a strategic issue, not only for Senegal but also for neighbouring countries, given the socio-cultural continuum and shared challenges. With this in mind, from 22 to 25 April 2025, the Timbuktu Institute, in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and with the support of the European Union, conducted dialogue sessions in the departments of Goudiry, Tambacounda and Koumpentoum. These awareness-raising sessions and dialogues aimed at civil society players in all their diversity and the security and defence forces (FDS) provided an opportunity to hold a series of dialogues involving the FDS, Badiénou Gox, community leaders, etc., with a view to taking joint and concerted action to strengthen social cohesion and living together.

From the four days of dialogue and collective reflection sessions held in the departments of Goudiry, Tambacounda and Koumpentoum by the Timbuktu Institute, under the guidance of Dr Bakary Sambe, it is possible to highlight a series of major cross-cutting observations, which project an overall picture of the dynamics, challenges and prospects of local communities. First of all, in all three departments, the community players (badiene gox, teachers, community leaders and FDS) showed great involvement in mediation, conflict prevention and strengthening the social fabric, as evidenced by the often lively and sometimes passionate discussions. This participation is proof of a local commitment to building peace and perpetuating social cohesion by relying on local mechanisms such as customary mediation and joking cousinage. As Augustin Ndecky, a teacher from Tambacounda, points out, "the border is not just a physical space, it is also a social space. Often, the first borders that arise between us are social, that is to say between communities, social groups, families and ethnic groups". Nevertheless, mutual incomprehension and even tensions between the communities and the FDS remain a major common challenge. Despite attempts at collaboration, a climate of mistrust remains. This atmosphere, which is exacerbated by the lack of regular opportunities for dialogue and exchange of mutual perspectives, or security practices that communities struggle to understand and appropriate, limits the ability of the FDS to benefit from useful community collaboration, which is essential for security prevention. "We must remember that our country is an island of stability in an ocean of instability, in this case the sub-region. That's why community and intercultural dialogue, socio-economic inclusion and sustainable collaboration between the population and the FDS must be a constant", says Bakary Sambe, President of the Timbuktu Institute. Moreover, adds Mr Diouf - commander of Tambacounda - ‘there can be no peace without security, and there can be no security without the involvement of the people, who must understand that we are with them and that we are all Senegalese’.

From Goudiry to Koumpentoum, via Tambacounda, community players have never ceased to stress the importance of education as an essential lever for resilience. With this in mind, teachers emerged as a crucial pillar, not only in academic training, but also in the transmission of the values of tolerance, citizenship and peace. Many participants also stressed the need to reinstate civic and moral education in school curricula and to provide better training for educators in the prevention of violent extremism. In addition, three pillars appear to be essential for building social cohesion in the Tambacounda region: restoring trust between the population and the FDS, strengthening education for young people in civics and citizenship, and taking account of local mechanisms in conflict prevention strategies. The community dialogues held in Goudiry, Tambacounda and Koumpentoum have highlighted resilient communities that have come up with solutions, but unfortunately still face a degree of socio-economic marginalisation. "Unfortunately, when we talk about borders in Senegal, the reality is that we often end up talking about vulnerability. Quite a few people living in these areas struggle to feel fully Senegalese. That's why, for the past few years, the State has been tackling this issue head on in its public policies, with the aim of ensuring territorial equity", says Alioune Badara Mbengue, Prefect of Tambacounda.

Building resilience together

In fact, these dialogue sessions helped to highlight two central facts. On the one hand, there is a remarkable local desire for resilience, provided that community involvement receives structural and institutional support and that endogenous mechanisms are recognised as being worthy of prospects for lasting solutions. On the other hand, in a region marked by a cross-border threat and ongoing fragility, these exchanges, which took place under the banner of active listening, participation and openness, show that it is possible and necessary to revive civic awareness and the sense of national belonging, to strengthen the links between the population and the FDS, and to support the pivotal role of women - in this case the badiene gox - community leaders and teachers in conflict management. ‘Even if their work suffers from a lack of institutional support and insufficient resources, the badiene gox regularly intervene in marital conflicts, the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), juvenile violence, community health, etc.’ said Assa Sidibé, first deputy mayor and badiene gox in Koumpentoum. The badiene gox are recognised in unison as key players in social mediation.

These dialogue sessions are a further reminder of the need to move away from vertical solutions that are disconnected from local realities, and to make way for resilience that is co-designed and co-constructed with local communities, respecting their endogenous knowledge and cultural diversity. It is therefore clear that there is an urgent need to step up coordinated support from the various players (the State, local authorities, CSOs and TFPs) to create the conditions for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development in the regions of eastern Senegal.

Kensio Akpo