In the lead-up to the United Nations COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, Senegalese women gathered in Dakar on Saturday to demand urgent climate action and justice. The demonstration, attended by around 50 climate activists, called for the protection of Senegal’s natural resources and a shift towards a decarbonized future.

Cheikh Niang Faye, a former tour guide and activist, voiced frustration over the lack of change despite years of protests. “We’ve been marching for four years, yet nothing has changed,” Faye said. “They spend billions on conferences but owe us billions in compensation because these industrialized countries, in their rush to develop, have caused greenhouse gas emissions.”

Senegal has seen the devastating effects of climate change firsthand, with record-breaking floods this year displacing tens of thousands and damaging over 1,000 hectares of crops in the northern and eastern regions. Activists argue that countries responsible for emissions should compensate Africa for the suffering caused by climate change impacts, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, especially women in rural areas.

Khady Faye, an activist from near the Saloum Delta—a region hit hard by coastal erosion—urged leaders to leave the natural resources untouched for the well-being of local communities. “Think about the suffering of these communities,” she pleaded. “Let our delta be; leave the gas at Sangomar underground to allow communities to live normally. We want climate justice in the Saloum Delta.”

The Sangomar oil field, Senegal’s first offshore drilling project, has sparked further concerns among activists. The project is 82% owned by Australia’s Woodside Energy, raising fears about environmental degradation and resource exploitation.

Khady Camara, the main organizer of the march, called on global leaders to uphold their commitments under the Paris Agreement. “It’s time for polluting countries to commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions,” Camara said. “This is the root cause of the catastrophes Africa is enduring.”

As COP29 approaches, Senegalese women and activists continue to push for climate justice, hoping to amplify Africa’s voice in the global climate debate.

Source: AFRICANA NEWS