Dakar police arrest 234 people in crackdown on begging

Senegalese police have intensified operations in Dakar to combat begging and the illegal occupation of public spaces. During a major intervention on August 18, 2026, authorities arrested 234 people across several sensitive areas, including Colobane, the Place de l'Obélisque, and the markets of Tillène and Soumbédioune.

The detainees included 58 adult men, 66 adult women, and 105 children, including 22 infants, as well as five individuals with reduced mobility. These actions are part of a broader effort to secure public spaces and address safety concerns, including recent accidental deaths of adolescents linked to street congestion.

While many residents support the measures, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concern regarding rising xenophobic rhetoric in media and social networks. In response, Dakar Central Commissioner Mamadou Tendeng denied allegations of xenophobia, describing the operations as ‘humanized security actions’ intended to sanitize public spaces.