In Thiès, in markets as in homes, the same question arises: "how to celebrate this religious holiday with dignity in a context of widespread high cost of living?" A few days before Tabaski, the railway capital, like the rest of the country, is going through a period marked by strong economic and social tensions, with unbearable pressure.

For many heads of households, "the price surge is largely explained by a structural imbalance in the livestock sector. Farmers face high production costs, particularly for animal feed, transportation, and maintenance, without sufficient public support." Furthermore, they believe that "economic difficulties in Mali, Senegal's main supplier of sheep during this period, risk further exacerbating tensions in the domestic market."

The president of the "Thiès First" movement, Habib Vitin, expressed his deep concerns and called on the government to address "the continued deterioration of living conditions for the population, particularly in the Thiès region." He observed that "in many neighborhoods, households are struggling to meet essential daily expenses: food, transportation, healthcare, and education, in a context where sheep prices have reached unsustainable levels, exceeding 150,000 CFA francs."

This situation, he says, is making religious sacrifice increasingly inaccessible for a large portion of the population. To this economic pressure, he adds a "worrying security situation, marked by a resurgence of theft, banditry, and cattle rustling in several localities. Livestock farmers and the general population now live in a climate of constant anxiety as the festival approaches."

The president of "Thiès d'Abord" also regrets "the insufficient response from local authorities to these challenges, even though local governments should be playing a more active role in providing social support to the population." Faced with this situation, he believes that "silence and inaction are no longer acceptable."

They also called on state authorities to take urgent and concrete measures, including: "strengthening security in livestock areas and sales points; effective support for livestock farmers (reducing the cost of livestock feed); price controls to protect the purchasing power of consumers," among others.

For Habib Vitin, "Tabaski must not become the symbol of a social divide where the right to celebrate is reserved for the wealthiest households. Senegal is facing a major social challenge. The people expect concrete, rapid, and commensurate responses."