After several months of suspension, the municipality of Saraya resumed the collection of municipal taxes on vehicles using National Road No. 7 (RN7) this Thursday. This decision marks a turning point for local finances, but also sparks debate and reactions among transport operators and users.

A relaunch after negotiations

Suspended last year due to a lack of integration into national collection points, the measure is now operational again, thanks to steps taken by the mayor with the transport union. The relaunch ceremony was held in the presence of local authorities and a delegation from the Union of West African Road Drivers (UCRAO), led by Modou Kaïré.

The mayor, visibly determined, explained the municipality's motivations: "We need resources to improve local infrastructure, strengthen social services, and support the development of Saraya. This tax is not an additional burden, but a necessary contribution to collective progress."

The union is cautious, the users are shared

Modou Kaïré, UCRAO national coordinator, recalled that the resumption of this tax was not without conditions. "The mayor had requested the collection, we had suspended it. When he wanted to restart it, he contacted me. I saw in him an ambitious vision for his community. That's why we decided to support him," he said.

But he warns against overly rigid practices: "To collectors, I say: prioritize negotiation and diplomacy. Carriers will gradually get used to it. You shouldn't be too demanding from the start."

On the ground, reactions are mixed. Some hauliers welcome the news with resignation, others with hope. Truck driver Mamadou Diallo, encountered on the RN7, confides: "If the money is used properly to repair roads or help people, we have no problem, but it must be clear and transparent."

For her part, Awa Diouf, a regular passenger on the route, qualifies: "I understand that the municipality is looking for resources. But it shouldn't indirectly increase the cost of transport for us passengers."

A supervised implementation

Before the official launch, the mayor and the UCRAO national coordinator met with the commander of the Saraya gendarmerie to ensure a safe and peaceful operation. The collection was symbolically launched in front of the Saraya gendarmerie brigade.