Senegal coastal erosion and energy exploitation impacts

Coastal communities in Senegal are experiencing significant socio-economic and environmental disruptions driven by climate change and the expansion of offshore energy production.

In Saint-Louis, the Guet Ndar fishing community faces severe coastal erosion that has destroyed homes and displaced families. This environmental shift, compounded by the opening of the Saint-Louis breach, has forced fishermen to travel further into high seas or migrate to neighboring countries to maintain their livelihoods.

In other regions such as Djifère, local fishermen and Greenpeace Africa have raised alarms regarding the impacts of oil and gas exploitation, specifically citing the Sangomar offshore production. Concerns include the disruption of fishing activities due to security perimeters, negative effects on women involved in fishery product processing, and the acceleration of coastal erosion. Advocacy efforts are underway to document these impacts across multiple sites, including Saint-Louis, Lompoul, and Kayar, to develop community-led solutions.