🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Thousands besiege Pikine town halls for Tabaski aid, security forces deployed
via SeneNews1 min read
As Tabaski approaches, thousands of citizens are converging on several town halls, particularly in Pikine, to request financial assistance. At the Léopold Sédar Senghor Cultural Complex, a central reception point, the situation escalated rapidly due to the massive influx of people. Security forces have been deployed to manage the crowds and prevent any disorder. Many applicants are reportedly spending the night at the site, hoping to receive support, though without guarantee of selection. A total budget of 400 million FCFA has been allocated to assist 8,000 beneficiaries, with each person receiving 50,000 FCFA. However, the observed turnout highlights a significant disparity between the public's expressed needs and the available capacity. This intense pressure has led to tensions regarding waiting times and the organization of operations. In response, calls are being made for improved organization, including decentralizing aid distribution points to avoid large gatherings. Additionally, some elected officials are advocating for an increased budget for social assistance, given the challenging economic climate and the growing number of requests as the holiday nears.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadGhana has terminated negotiations for a multi-year aid agreement with the United States after Washington demanded access to its citizens' personal data, according to a source close to the West African nation's government. The specific coverage of the funding agreement and the nature of the personal data requested were not clearly defined. The Ghanaian negotiating team included health officials, suggesting the health sector was a focus. The US team reportedly became "hostile" and exerted "pressure" after Ghana rejected the data access request. The proposed agreement would have provided Ghana, a nation of approximately 34 million people, with $109 million over five years. The US State Department indicated these funds were intended to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. This proposed funding was significantly less than the $2.5 billion and $2.1 billion offered to Kenya and Nigeria, respectively. At least 32 similar agreements, totaling around $20.6 billion under the "America First" global health strategy, have been signed to date, involving over a dozen African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Zimbabwe rejected a similar proposal in February due to concerns about its autonomy, and a draft health agreement with Zambia, involving access to natural resources and data, has not yet been finalized. The agreement with Kenya was suspended by a court a week after its December signing over personal data sharing c
Pape Malick Ndour, former minister, will be incarcerated following a Supreme Court decision on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, confirming his committal order. This ruling ends his provisional release. The case is related to the PRODAC Programme des Domaines Agricoles Communautaires affair, where Ndour faces charges of criminal association, alleged embezzlement of public funds, and money laundering. Investigations into the program's management involve financial irregularities amounting to several billion CFA francs. Initially, Ndour was under judicial supervision, including wearing an electronic bracelet, a measure later challenged by the prosecution and overturned by the Financial Judicial Pool's Indictment Chamber.
Must ReadThe Malian army has abandoned some of its positions in the northern Gao region, local sources reported on Tuesday. This development follows unprecedented attacks across the country on Saturday by armed groups targeting the ruling junta. Gao is Mali's second military region, after Kati, the junta's stronghold near Bamako, which saw intense fighting over the weekend. An anonymous local official told AFP that soldiers withdrew from Labbezanga, near the Niger border, to Ansogo, a move confirmed by a local resident. Mali is facing a critical security situation after coordinated attacks by jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims JNIM, allied with Al-Qaeda and the Tuareg separatist rebellion of the Azawad Liberation Front FLA. The army's withdrawal from Gao positions comes as the key northern city of Kidal has also fallen back into the hands of armed groups. Kidal had been under rebel control for decades before being reclaimed by the Malian state in November 2023, following an army offensive supported by Russian paramilitary group Wagner fighters, now known as Africa Corps. The ultimate goal of the armed groups remains unclear, but Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga stated that "the enemy's goal was to seize power by dismantling the institutions of the Republic." These attacks have placed the Malian junta in a critical situation unprecedented since the 2020 coup: Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed, and General Assimi Goïta, head of the junta, has not b
During debates on electoral code reforms in the National Assembly, Deputy Abdou Mbow strongly criticized the government's approach, stating it deviates from Senegal's tradition of consensus-based electoral reforms. Mbow asserted that previous electoral code modifications were always preceded by dialogue and consensus-building. He accused the current majority of imposing reforms tailored to allow their "spiritual guide" to be a candidate in 2029. Mbow also criticized the head of state, claiming the President lacked the courage to express disagreement, thereby becoming complicit in what he termed "electoral fraud." He further compared the ongoing institutional reforms, such as those concerning the Constitutional Court, single ballot, and CENA, to mechanisms used in countries that have experienced coups, arguing that Senegal has never needed such measures. Economically and socially, Mbow painted a bleak picture, stating that Senegal's economy is struggling, with high youth unemployment and women facing financial hardship, contrasting this with the country's past state.