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Senegal arrests 500 people in terror crackdown
The Senegalese authorities have arrested more than 500 people as part of a security crackdown after terrorist attacks in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali.
The police operation around the cities of Dakar and Thies started on Friday and saw 900 people in total questioned for a range of offences from possession of drugs or counterfeit currency to not having the proper documentation for vehicles, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.
Soro Diop said that while not directly terrorism-related, they were aimed at ensuring Senegal does not fall victim to an attack like its neighbours.
“The police carried out these security measures as part of an operation against the threat of terrorism,” he said. “Security has been reinforced on all levels.”
Earlier this month, the Splendid Hotel and Cappuccino Café in the capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso were attacked by gunmen who killed 30 people.
Pizzas are seen on the terrace of the Cappuccino restaurant after an attack on the restaurant and the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
The aftermath of the attack on the Cappuccino Café Photo: REUTERS/Joe Penney
In November, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali also fell victim to terrorists, with 20 people killed.
Responsibility for both attacks was claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operating in alliance with al-Mourabatoun, another terror group.
Senegal is a beacon of peace and stability in West Africa and a strong economy in the region but it also shares a border with Mali, where AQIM is principally based in the Sahara Desert. Security experts say its popularity as a base for international organisations makes Senegal the next obvious target.
Senegalese President Macky Sall has warned that extremism has no place in his nation, where Muslims and Christians coexist peacefully.
Major hotels that host foreigners have been told to improve their security measures or face closure, and the police presence in Dakar has markedly increased. Last week, vehicles entering downtown Dakar were also stopped and inspected.
The American and French embassies have denied reports in the local media that its intelligence had picked up direct terror threats towards Dakar and Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast.
Seán Smith, West Africa Analyst for consultants Verisk Maplecroft, said Dakar was “an attractive target” for jihadists.
“The large numbers of expatriate residents and foreign visitors in Dakar mean that major hotels, restaurants and bars are vulnerable to attack,” he said.
“In fact, there is already evidence to suggest that militant groups have begun to develop networks in Senegal. The arrest of a Senegalese Boko Haram member in Niger in October 2015 led to the discovery of plans to create a jihadist cell in Senegal and launch an attack in Dakar.”
