Country Report on Terrorism 2023 - Chapter 1 - Senegal

Overview:  Although there were no reported terrorist attacks in Senegal in 2023, the Government of Senegal considers terrorism a top security threat given the spread of violent extremism and instability in the Sahel and the termination of MINUSMA.  In light of these concerns, Senegal continued to work closely with foreign partners, including U.S. military and law enforcement officials, to strengthen its CT capabilities.

The risk of terrorist activity in Senegal is linked to instability and the prevalence of multiple active terrorist groups in neighboring countries, particularly Mali.  Attacks occurring in the Kayes Region of Mali (and within 40 miles of the border with Senegal) underscore the threat that Senegalese security forces recognize to be at their doorstep.  To combat this threat, Senegal contributed troops to the now-withdrawn MINUSMA and began concentrating on increasing the number and operational capacity of military and Gendarmerie units along its eastern border.  Senegal remains vigilant against the infiltration of violent extremist ideologies that run counter to the pacific and tolerant Islamic values preached by Senegal’s Sufi brotherhoods.

2023 Terrorist Incidents:  There were no reported terrorist incidents in Senegal in 2023.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:  There were no significant changes to Senegal’s CT legal framework in 2023.

Senegal’s Gendarmerie and National Police have specialized units to detect, deter, and prevent acts of terrorism, and the Ministry of Justice has a specialized pool of magistrates to investigate and prosecute terrorist-related activity.  Challenges remain to effective interagency cooperation and information sharing between the various governmental bodies that have CT functions in the country.  Senegal continued to enhance the capabilities of its Interministerial Framework for Intervention and Coordination of CT Operations, formed in 2016 to coordinate the government’s response to terrorism.

The country continued to improve its law enforcement capacity by participating in multilateral efforts, such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s (GCTF’s) West Africa Working Group, AU programs, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Senegal hosted the GCTF and G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Workshop, held in Dakar during December 11-13.  Additionally, Senegal continued to work with the International Organization for Migration to promote cooperation and coordination between border agencies.

Senegalese officials remained concerned that gaps in border protection resources and regional cooperation created security vulnerabilities.  These vulnerabilities were exacerbated by the absence of systems to verify travel document security, to screen travelers using terrorist screening watchlists, and to capture biographic and biometric information for travelers entering the country outside major ports of entry.  The Government of Senegal is near implementation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Targeting System-Global (ATS-G) software with the National Police, paving the way for Senegal to capture and analyze Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records in a move toward implementation of UNSCR 2396.  The CT Bureau, in partnership with the Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (known as ICITAP), is administering a Watchlisting Assistance and Support Program to facilitate the creation of an interagency watchlisting enterprise for Senegal to improve identification, screening, tracking, and interdiction of terrorists.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism:  Senegal is a member of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, and its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the National Financial Intelligence Processing Unit, is a member of the Egmont Group.  Senegal remained on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list in 2023.

In 2023, FATF reported that Senegal established a database to collect statistics and data on money laundering/terrorist financing (TF) investigations and prosecutions, enhanced the framework for coordination and conduct of TF investigations, strengthened risk-based supervision of designated nonfinancial businesses and professions, increased disseminations from the FIU to law enforcement authorities, increased resources dedicated to TF investigation and prosecution, and conducted analysis to understand the risk of abuse of non-profit organizations (NPOs) for TF purposes and conducted risk-based outreach to NPOs.

Countering Violent Extremism:  In partnership with the think tank the Institute of Security Studies, the Senegalese government’s director general of the Centre des Hautes Études de Défense et de Sécurité (CHEDS) completed a study in December 2021 on Preventing Violent Extremism in Senegal:  The Threats of Gold Mining.  The director general has used the findings to advise the government on steps that could be taken to help manage artisanal and illegal goldmining and prevent terrorists from exploiting the mining regions.  CHEDS partnered with the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel and with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to host a Prevention of Violent Extremism forum in Dakar, during February 28 through March 2.  Ministers, senior government officials, and community and civil society representatives from more than 20 countries attended.  The forum highlighted the urgent need to “systematically engage in concerted action” on the conditions conducive to violent extremism at local, national, and regional levels.

International and Regional Cooperation:  Senegal is a member of the AU, ECOWAS, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  The country remains a large security exporter, including being the 13th-largest global contributor of UN Peacekeepers.  Although not a member of the GCTF, Senegal participated in regional workshops and activities held by the GCTF West Africa Region Capacity Building Working Group.  In December, Senegal partnered with the U.S.- and Jordan-led GCTF FTF Working Group and G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea to host a GCTF maritime security workshop in Dakar.  In addition to the United States, France and the EU provide continued financial support and training to reinforce Senegal’s CT and border security capabilities.