In Guinea, the ruling junta has announced the suspension of its participation in the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS). The reasons for their anger? The government of Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, president of the National Committee of the Rally for Development (Cnrd), president of the Transition, finds, among other things, an under-representativeness within the decision-making bodies of the OMVS.

The Republic of Guinea threatens to withdraw from the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS). The ruling junta announced on Tuesday, via a press release, the suspension of its participation in the organization. « At the end of the 19th ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) held virtually on Tuesday, the highest Guinean authorities noted with regret that the concerns and strategic interests of the participation of the Republic of Guinea have still not been taken into account by the said organization since its creation », denounced the junta in a press release. Among other concerns, Guinea notes: “The considerable delay in the financing of the Koukoutamba hydroelectric dam in the Prefecture of Tougué (Labé region), its under-representation within the decision-making bodies of the OMVS.”

Created in 1972, the Omvs is made up of Guinea, Senegal, Mali and Mauritania. Since then, the organization has developed a number of hydro-agricultural and electricity projects for the benefit of these member countries sharing the Senegal River, which has its source in Guinea. For example, it designed the Project for the integrated management of water resources and the development of multiple uses of the Senegal River Basin (Pgire)… Which is intended to « strengthen the regional integration of the 4 riparian countries and improve the living conditions of the populations ». Without counting the dams in project, in particular the hydroelectric complex of Koukoutamba of 293 Mw, the dams of Bouréa, Gourbassi…. Consequently, a withdrawal of Guinea from the Omvs could have serious consequences for these various projects that are being carried out.

Thus regrets the High Commission of the Omvs, « the decision of the high authorities of the Republic of Guinea to suspend their participation ». And to ensure that “the organization will work, in relation with its high authorities, to find the appropriate solutions to the reasons mentioned. The Omvs will continue to contribute to the economic and social development of the Senegal River Basin in accordance with the objectives for which it was created”.

During its ordinary session, the Conference gave guidelines and instructions committing the entire Omvs system to maintaining and strengthening the momentum aimed at achieving the objectives of the organization, in particular the pursuit of the implementation of the common infrastructure program.

As part of decisions taken, the Conference elected Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, President of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the OMVS, and appointed Bintou Camara, Minister of Energy and Water of Mali, President of the Council of Ministers of the OMVS. Ms. Camara replaces Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal.

The Conference of Heads of State and Government supported the initiative launched by Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, relating to the establishment of a Multilateral Development Bank to facilitate the mobilization of resources for the development of the Senegal River Basin. It urged the Council of Ministers, in conjunction with the OMVS High Commission, to carry out a study for the rapid implementation of this initiative.

As a reminder, the presidency of the Conference of Heads of State and that of the Council of Ministers is occupied alternately by the Member States, namely Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

By Dialigué FAYE / dialigue@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH / Serigne S. DIAGNE