Hann Bay, once acclaimed as one of Africa’s most picturesque coves, has tragically transformed into an industrial sewer and dumping ground. Along the long Hann Bay beach in Dakar, a solitary figure with a shovel and wheelbarrow tirelessly copes with mounds of rubbish, giving the task an almost mythological dimension.
The acrid smell pervades the air, while a few meters away, a pipe disgorges a black mixture of household and factory wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean.
Formerly considered one of the most beautiful coves in all of Africa, this once-idyllic 20km (12 miles) stretch of fine sand adjacent to the port of Dakar has become a dumping ground due to an increasing population and expanding industry.
Most of Senegal’s manufacturing industry, situated along the bay, discharges waste directly into it, leading to alarming levels of ocean pollution.
The government has pledged to clean up the area for over two decades, but a cleanup initiative launched in 2018 with financial support from various entities has stalled. The National Sanitation Agency (ONAS) has recently announced the resumption of suspended work, yet locals remain skeptical, having heard similar promises for years.
In some areas, it’s nearly impossible to see the sand beneath the rubbish, and sewage pipes discharge into the sea every few hundred meters, turning the water red and black from various pollutants. Marine specialist Amidou Sonko confirmed the “high toxicity” of the area, posing threats to human health and biodiversity.
Despite these hazards, beachgoers continue to use Hann Bay while awaiting the completion of the wastewater treatment plant, facing challenges in convincing industries to participate and comply with environmental regulations. The efforts aim to restore Hann Bay to its former glory by the project’s completion at the end of the next year.
