Malick about making a living
Malick (b.1999) arrived from Kaolack, about 175km north of Ziguinchor to find work. Initially selling clothes starting from a young age in Kaolack, he moved to Ziguinchor in pursuit of better work opportunities, getting a job as a worker in the port before losing his job due to the port’s renovation. He is rides a Jakarta to support himself until he finds a better opportunity.
Even though Malick did not have much to say regarding the conflict, the way in which he had nothing to say about the conflict struck me as noteworthy anyway. Malick and I were sitting at a restaurant of his choosing, each having a can of energy drink. We were the only ones sitting in a corner of an otherwise empty restaurant, except for an older European man sitting at the bar and watching a video on full volume on his phone, and a lady who I later found out was the cook, walking back and forth between the bar and outside.
Malick talked to great extends about his life in Ziguinchor and the troubles that he faced trying to survive as a jakartaman in the city, while also providing for his family in Koalack, approximately 175 kilometres north of Ziguinchor. He had no trouble talking about how hard life in Ziguinchor is for the average young adult, asking me specifically to write points down that he thought were important in order to understand the complex situation in which he and his peers found themselves. This part of the interview will be covered in a different section.
At a certain point, I asked him if he thought some of these social and economics issues he was talk about were due to the conflict. Malick paused and asked what I meant with conflict. I elaborated although speaking quietly, asking him about the bandits north of Bignona and if he was aware of them.
Malick said, while looking straight at me. At point, I noticed his hands, being in a position on the table as if ready to stand up. Not wanting to put him in a position he was not comfortable with or to leave the interview, I changed the topic and asked if he still wanted to continue, to which he agreed.
I am still undecided about what this answer was or why his attitude shifted in such a way. From my observations and from what he told me, it seems impossible that Malick had any connection to the MFDC, especially considering that he is not a native of the region. My most likely hypothesis is that, similar to Arfang, he did not want to get involved with the regional politics and therefore denying any knowledge of it.
“I don’t know anything about a conflict”
“Je ne sais rien concernant un conflit”
Next: Jean about keeping order and the role of the police
