Senegal SN‑HLM layoffs and protest

In late July 2026 Senegal’s state‑run housing agency SN‑HLM dismissed nine senior employees as part of a restructuring plan announced by new director general Pape Abdourahmane Dabo. The terminations sparked an immediate employee protest inside the agency’s headquarters, with staff chanting slogans and wearing red armbands; police were called in after the demonstration turned confrontational.

Within days, the public service minister warned that a court challenge to the dismissals could damage the government’s reputation. Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo agreed to convene a mediation meeting involving the agency, unions and other stakeholders. Unions called for Dabo’s removal and criticized the handling of the layoffs, while the former director contested claims of abusive recruitment practices. The situation thus moved from a workplace protest to a broader governmental mediation effort aimed at resolving the dispute over the legality and impact of the layoffs.