The Gambia, Senegal – European dumping ground

Today is that day! On January 1st, 2023, after a long break, I finally decided to check out the blog. To my despair, I was greeted with hundreds of notifications and updates. So far, traditionally, at the end of the year, I did a summary, this time it didn’t happen, because to be honest, I was counting down the minutes until the end of 2022 … Three canceled trips to Morocco, Malta and Mauritius made me abandon the idea of ​​traveling to any country which name starts with with the letter M 😉

The lack of travel in connection with the gray reality and a few other overwhelming issues pinned me down. However, in the second half of the year, I decided it was time to stop whining and take matters into my own hands. I managed to visit Rhodes, Panama, Costa Rica, and just before Christmas I spontaneously landed in Senegal and Gambia.

As haven’t written any post for several months, I know I should initiate something nice like some  picture-perfect views, cozy towns or other crap like that. However, reality has revised my intentions…

Since returning from Senegal and Gambia – on December 24th, I still cannot believe what I saw. Of course, before leaving, I was aware that I was going to visit Third World countries and I was mentally prepared for what I might see there. However, the reality exceeded my worst imagination.

Senegal and The Gambia face a huge rubbish problem. You can see it everywhere, whether you are in a big city or village. At the same time, we should bear in mind that the countries of West Africa are among the poorest countries in the world, hence it seems that no one here cares about the issue of rubbish. What’s more, these dumps are often a main source of living. It’s so common to see families scouring “landfills” for something to sell that after a while such a picture may seem normal. The waste management system is practically non-existent there. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that both countries are struggling with illegal shipments of waste from developed countries, including Europe.

I cannot understand this policy, especially given the European aspirations set out in the European Green Deal. While in Europe we attach importance to proper waste segregation, meanwhile in Senegal or The Gambia it no longer matters. What’s more, it doesn’t matter that this rubbish also consists of e-waste. The lack of any control over waste disposal sites is a huge threat to the environment, not to mention the people and often small children searching landfills.

Unfortunately, it’s not the end of the story, the main European “export goods” seem to be cars suitable only for scrap. Cars from Europe are imported for parts or repaired, and those completely unfit for driving are simply left on the roads.

Of course, some „souvenirs” are also from Poland…

Ultimately, what rides on Senegalese or Gambian roads is far from meeting any emission or noise standards. While in Europe we promote zero-emission transport, in Africa it does not matter that smog makes it impossible to breathe normally there.

All of  these, combined with the unimaginable poverty that I saw,  made me revise my worldview. Of course, there will always be opinions that developed countries are helping Africa. However, based on my observations, it seems to me that Africa would be fine without any interference …