In a written question addressed to the Minister of the Interior, the deputy of the XVᵉ Legislature, Papa Tahirou Sarr, sounds the alarm on the disturbing scale of the Mendicity in Dakar, in particular that practiced by foreign nationals. He denounces a situation which has become “untenable”, marked by an uncontrolled occupation of public space by beggars, in particular “from Mali, Guinea and Niger”.
In this official document dated May 5, 2025, the parliamentarian recalls that begging is supervised by article 245 of the Senegalese penal code, which formally prohibits it on public roads outside of strictly religious cases. However, according to him, this prohibition is daily raped in general indifference: “The offenders operate with an open face, with impunity,” he said.
Even more worrying, Tahirou Sarr stresses that some countries like Niger have taken strict measures to prohibit their nationals from begging on their territory, while tolerating – or even leaving it – when they go abroad. He thus challenges the government on the need to put in place measures of control, identification and renewal on the border of foreign beggars in an irregular situation. The deputy thus denounces an attack on “territorial and legal sovereignty” of Senegal, calling for a firm response based on a clear political will. He thus poses his questions to the Minister of the Interior:
Why are the clear provisions of the penal code prohibiting begging on the public roads not applied, even though the offenders operate with an open face, daily, and with impunity in the streets of Dakar?
What measures does the government intend to take to effectively control the conditions of entry and stay of foreign nationals practicing begging in our country, particularly those coming from Niger, whose state nevertheless prohibits this practice on its own national territory?
Is there a national strategy for combating imported and organized begging, and if so, what are the modalities of concrete application?
Does the ministry intend to implement a policy of identification, control and, if necessary, to renew the borders of foreign beggars in an irregular situation or in manifest violation of our laws?
