Hundreds of activists gathered in Dakar this past weekend to voice their anger over the alarming surge in feminicides across Senegal. The demonstration, though small in numbers, sent a powerful message to authorities, demanding immediate action to curb gender-based violence that continues to claim lives at an unprecedented rate.
Voices of resistance echo through the streets
Led by prominent feminist Aminata Libain Mbengue, protesters marched through the capital’s key districts, holding signs with bold messages like “Silence is complicity” and “No woman’s life belongs to her killer”. The demonstrators, mostly women from diverse backgrounds, refused to let the issue fade into the background, insisting that words alone cannot protect victims.
Aminata Libain Mbengue, a well-known activist, delivered a scathing critique of the government’s inaction. “The president himself acknowledged in his New Year’s address that concrete measures were needed to address feminicides. Yet here we are months later, still waiting. How many more women and girls must lose their lives before the state fulfills its duty? How many more headlines of brutality will it take for this administration to act?”
Demanding accountability and legal reforms
The protesters did not limit their demands to public statements. They called for the urgent recognition of feminicide as a distinct crime in Senegal’s penal code, arguing that existing laws fail to address the severity of gender-based violence. The lack of strong legal repercussions, they contend, only emboldens perpetrators.
Aminata emphasized the need for systemic change: “When a two-year-old child is raped and murdered by three men, where is the statement from the Ministry of Family and Social Solidarity? Where are the investigations? Where is the justice? This is not just a tragedy—it’s a national scandal. Every time a woman or girl is killed, the government must respond with decisive action. Protecting women and girls is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation.”
A call for sustained pressure
As the demonstration drew to a close, organizers issued a stark warning: they would return to the streets with every new victim. “This is not a one-time protest,” Aminata declared. “We will march again, and again, until our voices force the government to act. No more excuses. No more delays.”
The protest serves as a stark reminder of the growing frustration among Senegalese women and their allies, who refuse to accept feminicide as an inevitable reality. The call for justice resonates far beyond Dakar, echoing the frustrations of communities across the country demanding change.