DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Officials have ordered the temporary closure of a market in Senegal's capital after determining the structure was in a state of "advanced decay," displacing more than 900 vendors and shuttering a popular tourist attraction.
Alioune Badara Diop, Dakar's prefect, said Sunday that the closure of Sandaga Market was necessary "to preserve the safety of persons and property." The three-story building, constructed in 1933 and located in Dakar's downtown Plateau district, sells everything from fresh fish to electronics and tourist trinkets. It receives thousands of visitors each day, often causing traffic congestion on neighboring streets.
Diop said displaced vendors would be resettled by city officials.
While some vendors said the repairs were long overdue, Francis Faye said he and other vendors should've had more time to clear out their merchandise.
