The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a press release expressing its deep concern over the escalation of police violence in Senegal, where cases of excessive use of force by security personnel have been recorded, resulting in the deaths of three people in the cities of Rosso and Dakar.
According to the statement, a young man died at the end of June in Rosso as a result of an operation carried out by security forces. A few days later, two other young men lost their lives in the Cambérène neighborhood of Dakar under similar circumstances. Although the details remain somewhat unclear, initial evidence suggests the involvement of security forces in these incidents.
The Commission condemned any excessive use of force in its statement, considering it a serious violation of the right to life and security, as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Commission also expressed its condemnation of the use of a young man as a human shield by police officers during the clashes that occurred following these tragic events, viewing these actions as flagrant violations of several provisions of the African Charter, including Article 4, which enshrines the right to life, and Article 5, which guarantees respect for human dignity.
On another note, the Commission praised the response of the President of the Republic of Senegal, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who ordered the opening of comprehensive and independent investigations into these incidents, emphasizing the importance of this step to ensure accountability for those responsible and the application of appropriate sanctions.
In conclusion, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights called on the Senegalese government to take measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur, including organizing training sessions for police forces based on the principles outlined in the African guidelines on arrest and detention.
