The Senegalese State is intensifying its efforts to recover its real estate assets through a vast operation led by the Société de gestion et d’exploitation du patrimoine bâti de l’État (Sogepa). According to Libération, an overwhelming audit revealed that 54 villas situated in strategic quarters such as Cité Fayçal, Mermoz, Point-E and Fann Résidence had been ceded under leases deemed illegal, generating modest revenues for the State. These emphyteutic leases, granted for a duration of 99 years in violation of the provisions in force which limit these contracts to 30 years, renewable for up to 20 years, stipulated symbolic rents of between Fcfa 60 000 and Fcfa 80 000 per month. Meanwhile, the State was spending nearly 2 billion Fcfa annually to house its civil servants, an intolerable situation which motivated the audit initiated by the authorities. Built in the 1990s by businessman Djily Mbaye, the Cité Fayçal had been partially ceded to the State to house public officials, magistrates and ministers. In 2012, under the regime of Macky Sall, an alternative solution had been found by the attribution of emphytéotiques de 99 ans, a measure that finally proved illegal and contrary to the interests of the State. La Sogepa has also launched a procedure to recover villas sold by decree to private individuals. In the light of the foregoing, the Commission considers that the aid in question is incompatible with the common market and that it is incompatible with the common market. The operation does not only concern the Cité Fayçal, but also other strategic quarters such as Mermoz, le Point-E and Fann Résidence.
Cité Fayçal, Mermoz, Point-E and Fann: Villas ceded illegally and recovered by the State
