Rising tensions over foreigner checks in Senegal

For Amadou Bangoura, a 30-year-old Beninese student living in Dakar, the night of his police stopover will forever remain etched in his memory. It was shortly before 10 p.m., and he was making his way home from a gym in the Liberté 6 district. The streets were nearly deserted, with only the occasional flicker of headlights cutting through the darkness. As he rounded a corner, two officers stepped out of their vehicle and ordered him to halt. “Present your documents,” they demanded.

This incident is not an isolated case. Over the past two weeks, the Direction de la police des étrangers et des titres de voyage has conducted sweeping identity checks targeting primarily West African nationals across the capital and its surrounding areas. The stated goal? To enhance public safety. Between June 30 and July 8, authorities carried out 490 checks, resulting in 36 individuals being referred to the public prosecutor for irregular stay.

Growing discomfort among foreign residents

Bangoura, who has lived legally in Senegal for five years, describes the experience as unsettling. “I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen,” he admits. His concerns reflect a broader unease among foreign residents, who feel the sudden crackdown is tarnishing Senegal’s reputation for hospitality—Teranga, as it is known in Wolof.

Civil society organizations have also raised alarms. In a July 13 statement, they condemned what they describe as a “creeping normalization of suspicion toward foreigners.” The groups highlight arbitrary arrests, “excessive administrative demands,” and “prolonged detentions.”

Digital hostility and economic tensions

The crackdown coincides with a troubling rise in online hostility. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have seen a surge in xenophobic rhetoric targeting the Guinean community, which makes up over 40% of Senegal’s foreign population. Some users have accused Guineans of “stealing jobs” from Senegalese workers—a narrative that echoes recent inflammatory rhetoric in South Africa.

These developments unfold as Senegal assumes the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a role that underscores the country’s regional leadership.