Dakar - The African Mirror

Mar

2023

Senegalese police fire tear gas as Dakar braces for more protests

DIADIE BA and BATE FELIX SENEGAL'S security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse opposition supporters who attempted to gather in the capital Dakar for the first of three days of planned opposition protests over a libel trial of one of its leaders. Shops and banks closed early on Wednesday as the West African nation braced for fresh protests over a court case that has fuelled tension and violence ahead of presidential elections next year. Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko is due in court on Thursday for a hearing in a libel case brought by the tourism minister, who…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Time Magazine unveils Africa’s Magnificent Six

NEWS

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY FROM lush rainforests and wildlife sanctuaries to majestic pyramids and thriving fashion capitals, Africa's diversity of natural and manmade wonders continues to appeal to travellers worldwide. But this year's TIME magazine World's Greatest Places challenges the conventional image of Africa, with six listed destinations showcasing the continent’s innovation, agency, and vibrant creative scene alongside its celebrated natural beauty. To curate the esteemed list, TIME tapped into its international network of correspondents and contributors, seeking nominations for destinations that offer fresh and exhilarating experiences. The result is a diverse selection of 50 awe-inspiring locations, including exceptional…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Thousands of Senegal opposition supporters join three-day protest

NEWS

BATE FELIX and NGOUDA DIONE OVER 10,000 supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko massed at a field in the capital Dakar on Tuesday, the first of three days of planned protests in support of the aspiring presidential candidate, who faces a libel case set to resume this week. The demonstrations are the latest expression of growing tensions in Senegal in the run-up to a 2024 election that could see President Macky Sall vie for a controversial third term, which the opposition says is unconstitutional. Sall, 61, has neither confirmed nor denied that he plans to run, amid widespread speculation.…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Police fire tear gas at supporters of Senegal opposition leader Sonko

NEWS

NGOUDA DIONE POLICE fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of supporters of Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after he left the court in the capital Dakar where hearings are underway in a libel case against him. The demonstrations are the latest sign of unrest in the West African country where elections next year could pit Sonko against President Macky Sall, if the president seeks a third term, a move that opponents say is unconstitutional. Sall, 61, has not ruled out running in the election which the government said on Thursday would take place on February 25, 2024. Sonko supporters and…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Dakar’s clandestine taxis are essential for daily travel – but they’re illegal

AFRICITIES

PAPE SAKHO, GAELE LESTEVEN, MOMAR DIONGUE and PASCAL POCHET AFRICA'S major cities are growing at a rapid pace. In Dakar, Senegal’s capital, for instance, the population has almost doubled in 20 years, reaching 4 million inhabitants today. But in most metropolises, like Dakar, planning isn’t keeping up with the expansion. One example of this is the city’s transport system. Public transport plays a fundamental role in providing access to any city. However, in many cities, it’s lacking, particularly in areas of urban sprawl. This worsens the quality of life for people living in these areas, where there is a shortage…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Meet Valerie Traore, the woman behind one of Africa’s leading advocacy firms

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

BIRD STORY AGENCY FOURTEEN years ago, Valerie Traore quit her job in Nairobi, put her possessions up for sale and used the proceeds to chase her dream some 6,000 km away, on the other side of a continent. Today, the founder and Executive Director of Niyel, an international advocacy and campaigning firm based in Dakar, has no regrets about that decision. "What Niyel is doing through advocacy is showing others that we are change creators because the Africa we want is the Africa we have to be part of developing and creating but not dismissing those who are not part…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Is Dakar set to become the cultural and creative capital of Africa?

LIFESTYLE

BIRD STORY AGENCY ON December 6th 2022, Chanel, one of the world's leading luxury brands, organised a three-day cultural program in Senegal, the Chanel Métiers d'Art show. This was the inaugural runway show for the haute couture brand on African soil. While the show has previously been held in New York, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Rome, Chanel chose Dakar for its African debut. "By choosing Dakar, the house wishes to make the savoir-faire of its métiers d'art resonate with the artistic and cultural energy of the city," the brand said in a statement. Of the 62 models in the show,…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Rising food costs hamper Senegal Ramadan traditions

NEWS

NGOUDA DIONE THERE was no meat in the large silver bowl around which Astou Mandiang and her family gathered after breaking fast at nightfall in Senegal's capital Dakar, where Muslims celebrating the holy month of Ramadan are feeling the pinch of inflation. Food prices in West Africa have shot up by between 20% and 30% over the past five years, with drought and conflict pushing millions off farmland and stalling food production, aid agencies say. At the same time, border closures during the pandemic have disrupted supply chains. The war in Ukraine is likely to add even more pressure on…

Dec

2021

By The African Mirror

Senegal records first Omicron case in tourist who attended demonstration

COVID-19

SENEGAL has recorded its first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a tourist who attended a demonstration in the capital Dakar last month with about 300 people of varying nationalities, testing lab IRESSEF said on Sunday. The 58-year-old man was visiting from another West African country and tested positive when leaving Senegal on Friday. He is under quarantine and has no symptoms, the lab said in a statement.

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Stretched Senegalese hospitals overwhelmed by third COVID wave

COVID-19

ALESSANDRA PRENTICE IDRISSA Lo rushed back to Senegal from the United States when family members started falling sick with COVID-19 and dying. On Wednesday, he mourned a fifth family member lost to the virus - one of nearly 150 Senegalese to die this month as a third wave sweeps through the capital Dakar, leaving its hospitals nearly overrun. "The one I lost two hours ago is my really close cousin. He was young, he was like 40 years old," said Lo, a U.S.-based transport worker, standing in the sun-baked yard of the hospital in Dakar's Yoff neighbourhood. "There is something…