Senegal reports 1,537 missing persons since 2008

In Senegal, 1,537 people have been reported missing by their families since 2008, according to data from the Red Cross Restoring Family Links network. This figure was highlighted during the International Day of Missing Persons, commemorated on August 31, 2026, at the Senegalese Red Cross headquarters in Dakar.

Disappearances in the country are primarily attributed to migration, particularly dangerous irregular crossings. The conflict in the Casamance region also remains a significant factor contributing to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of many individuals.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Senegalese Red Cross, and the National Federation of Associations of Families of Missing Persons organized the event to advocate for the rights of families to know the fate of their loved ones. The organizations emphasized that the uncertainty caused by missing persons creates profound suffering for families, who often live between hope and despair.