Cities on the African continent are growing rapidly: according to the German Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) By 2030 there will be 18 African cities with more than five million inhabitants. There are currently seven African metropolises. This development poses challenges for many cities. This also applies to the Senegalese capital Dakar.
Economic and population growth as well as a relatively stable political situation make Dakar attractive for new large-scale construction projects. The construction boom in the Senegalese city with 1.1 million inhabitants is quite obvious, says ARD correspondent Dunja Sadaqi to SRF. “When you drive through the streets in a taxi, you have the feeling that you are on a major construction site.” A new train station or a new highway, the cityscape changes quickly. Investments are particularly made in infrastructure.
Legend:
Many companies and the middle class are benefiting from the current construction boom in Dakar.
Imago/Xinhua
Senegal is an attractive country for investors. Agriculture and the raw materials sector have developed positively in recent years and demand for export products from Europe is high. Tourism has also developed. Compared to other Sahel states where military coup regimes rule, Senegal is also attractive for international actors.
Investors from China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and France are increasingly interested in political influence. They all want to strengthen political stability in the West African country. Investments also promise tax breaks for the companies providing money.
Winner and Loser
A construction boom generates many profiteers. For example, the construction work will create many temporary jobs. But the social acceptability of the construction boom among the Senegalese population is a major point of criticism, says Sadaqi. “There is a lot of construction going on, but there is not enough social housing being built. For people in Dakar, this construction boom means that finding affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult and everything is becoming more and more expensive.” Citizens would be driven to the outskirts of the city. In addition, the city is developing into a huge “concrete desert”.
This concrete desert of Dakar that is being created there also has negative consequences for health.
The main beneficiaries of the construction boom in Dakar are companies and the middle class. A large part of the normal population views the construction boom rather critically, says Sadaqi. “This concrete desert of Dakar that is being created there also has negative consequences for health.” For example, activists complained about more respiratory diseases among the population.
Legend:
There is currently a construction boom in Dakar.
Reuters/ZOHRA BENSEMRA
The lack of green space is also a problem: “According to the WHO, all residents must have at least 15 square meters of green space available to ensure general health,” says Sadaqi. In Dakar, residents currently only have one square meter of green space available.
According to Sadaqi, another problem could arise with the soil. This is because these could absorb less water during heavy rain, which increases the risk of flooding in the area. “Many say it’s not only bad for the health of the city’s population, but it’s bad for the environment.”