Newly appointed Chairman of Senelec’s Board of Administration, Jean Baptiste Diouf, is immediately facing a contentious issue: a ten-year contract with Akilee for the deployment of smart meters across the national territory of Senegal. The Board's meeting to decide on this strategic contract is scheduled for October 7th, the very day of Diouf’s inauguration, raising concerns about a deliberate attempt to railroad a decision. Unions, including the Convergence syndicale des travailleurs de Senelec (CSTS), strongly oppose the project and have requested a postponement of any contract signing. They’ve escalated the issue, directly appealing to Senegal’s President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Petroleum and Energy. While acknowledging the need for modernization and digitalization of the counting system, the CSTS questions the terms of the agreement with Akilee. This long-term contract is expected to have significant implications for Senelec for years to come.