Local residents and environmental advocates are raising their voices against the green city project planned for Lac Rose, a natural landmark near Dakar. The initiative, which includes high-end residential units, has triggered widespread opposition despite the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction.

Ibrahima Mbaye, president of the Lac Rose collective, warns that the project threatens the fragile ecosystem of the site. “A green city label is just a facade to mislead people into believing this will be a smart, eco-friendly development,” he states. “We live here and know it’s impossible on this land. The dunes and coastal protection belts will be destroyed, and the entire landscape will be marred by massive structures.”

The collective highlights the economic impact on 6,000 workers who depend on the lake’s preservation, including salt harvesters, restaurateurs, and tourism operators. Their livelihoods are at stake as the project risks driving away visitors.

“Tourists come for the natural beauty, not concrete towers,” Mbaye emphasizes. “Once these structures are built, the Lac Rose will lose its unique charm, and tourism will collapse.”

The Egyptian developer, Casa Orascom, counters these concerns, asserting that the project will proceed while adhering to environmental commitments made with the Senegalese government. The company projects the creation of 20,000 direct and indirect jobs once construction is underway.