Senegal xenophobia and unity calls

In mid‑July 2026, Senegal faced a surge in xenophobic and racist rhetoric targeting Guinean, Peul and other minority communities. Think‑Tank Afrikajom Center founder Alioune Tine denounced the hate speech on X, urging the nation to uphold its traditional hospitality (Teranga) and to protect migrants and minorities. The Party of Independence and Labour (PIT) warned that such attacks could spark social conflict and called on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and patriotic forces to act against hate speech.

A week later, prominent religious figures amplified the call for social cohesion. Octogenarian Serigne Habib Ndaw urged intellectuals, artists and religious leaders to break their silence, promote public debate and safeguard media pluralism, invoking historic Senegalese values. Seydina Oumar Touré likewise appealed for restraint, dialogue and respect across faiths, stressing that political disagreements should not erode the country’s inter‑faith harmony. Together, these statements illustrate a broadening civil‑society response aimed at countering rising intolerance and reinforcing national unity.