Report: Chinese will stay to work in Touba

"L'observateur" is reporting today that the Mourides leadership in Touba has smoothed over relations with the Chinese firm Henan, after the Chinese were reported to have stopped work for nonpayment. The multi-million dollar road and infrastructure work to be done by the Chinese in and around Touba will continue... El Hadji Ndiaye, the "right arm" of the Khalif General of the Mourides, is quoted as saying that the Chinese will continue the work although behind in payments to the tune of 9 billion CFA franc ($20.3 million)... The "L'observateur" report also indicates that 60 of the 80 Chinese who were working on the Touba projects are no longer there... About half the 115 kilometers of roadwork committed to the Chinese has been done, according to the report. Meanwhile, the balance of the five-year project, at about 20 billion CFA franc per year, will continue, insists the Khalif. The work includes sanitation and other infrastructure, besides the road work.