After the robbery perpetrated at Riu Baobab located in Pointe Sarène, calm returned. Operations continue to take place normally, assure those responsible for the hotel reception via a press release. The latter speak of “an isolated act which does not reflect the reality of security and hospitality in Senegal”.
On the night of Saturday January 18 to Sunday January 19, 2025, the populations of Pointe Sarene woke up in panic. This is because of the armed attack against the Riu Baobab hotel. More than 72 hours later, senior hotel officials released a press release to try to reassure the population, customers, as well as employees. In all things, misfortune is good, they seem to say. Indeed, the incident has reinforced this hotel’s determination to maintain a secure environment and to offer quality services in accordance with its international standards, so that guests can continue to enjoy their stay in a peaceful and protected setting, the height of their confidence.
Through this document, those responsible for the Riu Baobab hotel wish to reassure that the situation is perfectly under control and that the establishment’s operations are continuing normally.
“After the incident, the Minister of Tourism of Senegal, accompanied by a large government delegation, personally visited the hotel. This visit made it possible to reaffirm the commitment of the Senegalese authorities to ensure the security of tourist sites and to maintain the country’s reputation as a hospitable and secure destination,” note the managers of this hotel.
In addition to this visit, they indicate that a team of gendarmes is present 24 hours a day within the establishment. “These agents are working closely with the Riu security team to guarantee the peace and safety of guests and staff until further notice,” adds management. Moreover, declare the leaders of the reception, “this isolated act does not reflect the reality of security and hospitality in Senegal. Investigations by local authorities are actively continuing to identify and apprehend those responsible. At the same time, additional measures have been put in place, including increased security personnel in hotel areas, as well as during special events and conferences.
-However, managers reiterate their commitment and support to customers, while expressing “the most sincere regrets for the inconvenience caused by this incident”.
As a reminder, this spectacular attack was carried out by around twenty criminals. This audacious act caused great concern among the residents and staff of the establishment who remained in shock. The attackers, according to some witnesses, heavily armed, surprised and neutralized the staff responsible for hotel security by tying them up. Their intrusion caused great tension among the hosts and participants at a closing evening organized by the African Consulting and Organization Consortium (Caco), an engineering consulting firm and subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Cdc) . According to testimonies, the criminals fired warning shots to secure their operation.
But that was without taking into account the determination of the hotel staff who quickly alerted the gendarmerie. Moreover, the rapid intervention of the gendarmes of the Nianing Proximity Brigade made it possible to put an end to this attack, after an exchange of fire with the attackers.
Despite the responsiveness of the police, the bandits managed to escape by cutting the hotel’s fences. According to some witnesses, they took a sum estimated at 12,100,000 CFA francs, as well as valuable objects. The windows of two pickup trucks were also damaged. For the moment, the assessment of losses remains in progress, according to an authority from the National Gendarmerie. This tourist gem targeted by criminals was inaugurated by President Macky Sall. The Riu Baobab hotel represents a flagship of tourism on the PetiteCôte. With its 522 rooms already operational and an overall program providing for 1024 rooms for a total investment of more than 92 billion CFA francs, this establishment is a showcase of the country’s tourist attractiveness. But this incident reignites the debate on security along the Petite-Côte where attacks against tourists and residents are becoming recurrent. In addition to this, the phenomenon of drug landings on the coast worsens the situation. This is why the security system should be strengthened to prevent such acts and ensure tranquility in this strategic region.
