From 8 to 10 June 2023, the city of Saly in Senegal will be hosting the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Global Coalition’s 2023 Africa Conference on the theme “Towards a collaborative and just energy transition for Africa”. More than 200 participants have registered for this conference, which is being held face-to-face for the first time following the Covid19 pandemic.
The participants came from 29 African national coalitions, the PWYP team at headquarters and decentralised levels, and about ten partners who helped to organise the conference. A special mention goes to Senegal’s PWYP national coalition, which rallied together to make the conference a success.
The opening ceremony, which took place this morning 8 June, was punctuated by three speeches. Dr Papa Fara Diallo, President of PWYP Senegal, gave the welcome address. He was followed by Fatima Mimbire from Mozambique, President of the PWYP Africa Steering Committee, who presented the conference programme.
The opening speech was given by Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck, Minister of State and President of EITI Senegal since 2019. She is a former Senegalese Minister of Health. A former international civil servant and member of many boards of directors of organisations worldwide, this health specialist leads a citizens’ movement that has worked extensively in mining regions. Pr. Coll Seck is a champion of gender issues and a defender of women’s rights. She spoke about the political context that has prevailed in Senegal for the last ten days, marked by violent demonstrations that have resulted in deaths and many injuries. For her, this conference is being held at a time when Senegal expects to start producing hydrocarbons at the end of 2023. It comes at a time of reform in the extractive sector, with the adoption of the Oil and Gas Codes and their decrees, the law on beneficial ownership, the law on local content, and so on. EITI Senegal participated in these reforms, which earned it a good score for the 2nd Validation, which took place in 2022. The President of EITI Senegal acknowledged the important role played by Senegalese civil society in the EITI. A civil society in which PWYP plays a major role. She did not miss the opportunity to invite the participants to attend the EITI conference next week in Dakar. The opening ceremony was moderated by Demba Seydi, PWYP’s Senior Regional Coordinator for French-speaking West Africa.
Elie KABORE, From Saly
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