Dakar residents express their deep concern at the lack of green and peaceful public spaces in their daily lives, a deficit that affects their quality of life, their mental and physical health, as well as social ties. The official handover of the last French military base in Dakar, on 18 July 2025, is seen as a historic opportunity to transform this site into a public park, a place of breathing, meeting and rest for all. This initiative would, according to the petitioners: ” Improve the physical and mental health of citizens: green spaces reduce stress, promote physical activity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It would also provide “a safe and accessible place for all to relax and socialise” in an increasingly dense city, while “reinforcing climate resilience” through trees that reduce heat islands and filter out pollutants. In addition, it would encourage intergenerational links and community initiatives: cultural events, sports activities, lectures in the open air, collective gardening, etc. I’m not sure. The signatories point to an alarming imbalance: “Dakar today has only about 2 m2 of green space per inhabitant, well below the 9 m2 recommended by the WHO” (source: ANSD, Senegal).
Petition for a public park on the former French military base of Ouakam
