Senegal’s government and Egyptian construction firm Kasa Orascom are facing public opposition over a 550 billion CFA franc (US$900 million) housing project near Lac Rose (Pink Lake), a site known for its high salinity and algae-induced pink hue. The development, located 35 kilometers from Dakar, aims to build nearly 10,000 homes and related infrastructure. Locals, however, have protested, saying the project threatens the fragile dunes and fallow forests that protect their villages from coastal erosion.
The planned city is part of Senegal’s push to expand urban housing and tourism infrastructure. Once complete, the new “green city” is expected to create around 20,000 jobs and attract investment to the region. However, community groups in Ngaye and nearby villages say construction work has already disturbed natural barriers that shield the area from rising sea levels. They have blocked road works at the project site, arguing that the removal of vegetation would expose the coast to further degradation.
The dispute centers on a strip of fallow trees, part of a natural dune system, that locals consider essential for both environmental protection and safety. “If the trees go, the sea will reach our homes,” one community representative said during a recent protest. The vegetation, often dismissed as scrubland, stabilizes sand dunes and prevents seawater intrusion. Its removal, environmental experts warn, could accelerate the erosion that is already eating away parts of Senegal’s coast.
Senegal’s coastline loses between 1 and 2 metres of land each year, according to the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE). Around 60% of the Dakar coastline is considered at high risk of erosion. The Pink Lake area is among the most vulnerable, lying between an advancing ocean and an expanding urban frontier. Salt mining, a key livelihood in the region, also depends on the lake’s balance of salinity and water inflow, conditions that could shift if the surrounding dunes are disrupted.
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Kasa Orascom has rejected claims that its work is damaging the environment. The company says it will preserve 90 hectares of fallow forest within the project site and plant an additional 15 hectares of greenery. It also cites an agreement with Senegal’s Ministry of Environment that includes biodiversity safeguards and restrictions on tree removal. “We found 90 hectares of fallow trees, and we will preserve them,” a company spokesperson said. “Our goal is to create a functional and sustainable residential area.”
Local authorities have confirmed that environmental protection clauses were included in the project’s lease. “The developer cannot move into the forested zone,” one official told local media. “That restriction is part of their contract.” The Ministry has also stated that any breach of the agreement would result in suspension of construction permits. However, oversight remains a concern. Senegal’s environmental impact assessments (EIAs) have been criticized for weak enforcement and limited consultation with affected communities.
The economic argument for the project remains strong from the government’s perspective. Tourism contributes about 10% of Senegal’s GDP, and officials hope that developing the Pink Lake corridor will attract visitors and reduce pressure on Dakar’s crowded housing market. The project’s backers say the area could evolve into a mixed-use economic zone, combining residential, hospitality, and retail facilities.
Environmental researchers and civil society groups argue that development plans around ecologically sensitive sites often overpromise sustainability. They point to previous coastal projects, such as hotel and resort construction in Saly and Saint-Louis, where environmental commitments were diluted once construction began. In those areas, rising tides have since damaged infrastructure and displaced families.
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Senegal’s Pink Lake project fits into a broader trend across Africa where large-scale real estate and tourism developments are being pushed along coastlines. Similar disputes have emerged in Ghana’s Ada Foah, where mangroves have been cleared for resorts, and in Kenya’s Lamu, where expansion of port facilities has affected fishing communities. These cases reflect a recurring challenge: rapid development often outpaces the capacity of local authorities to manage its environmental impact.
For Senegal, the issue goes beyond one project. The government is balancing the need for investment and jobs with commitments made under the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Agenda 2035 to protect coastal ecosystems. The Pink Lake area, classified as an ecologically sensitive zone, is a key test of how those commitments are applied in practice.
What happens next will depend on the strength of environmental oversight and the willingness of both government and developers to respect ecological limits. The Ministry of Environment has promised to monitor progress closely, while local communities continue to demand full access to project documentation and public hearings.
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For now, Lac Rose remains a site of both promise and tension, a place where Senegal’s pursuit of economic growth meets the realities of environmental fragility. Whether it becomes an example of responsible urban planning or another cautionary tale of unchecked expansion will depend on decisions made in the coming months.
Source: France24
