Senegal Roundup: Islamic veil controversy, political 'witch hunt', youth Olympics

Delayed Akon project raises concerns

Akon's $6 billion futuristic African metropolis project in Senegal faces an ultimatum from the government to commence substantial construction work or risk losing the land allocated for the project. The site remains undeveloped after four years, and financial viability concerns have been raised. Akoin cryptocurrency, touted as the project's economic backbone, has also plummeted in value. Newsweek reports that local leaders and residents are now expressing scepticism, and the project manager is awaiting further instructions to proceed with construction. Akon is expected to visit Dakar soon to address concerns and reassure stakeholders of the project's viability.

Preparations for the Youth Olympics

Senegal is preparing to host the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in 2026. Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour performed at the Africa Station in Paris, showing the country's readiness for the event. The mayor of Île Saint-Denis is also working towards the Youth Olympics and has received requests to visit from other cities hosting future Olympics. According to RFI, N'Dour emphasised the importance of solidarity among African nations in supporting sports and culture and praised the diversity of French champions at the Paris Olympics. He also mentioned his fascination with fencing.

Senegal appoints new judges

Senegal's new leadership is preparing a "witch hunt," claimed the former ruling party, after several judges were replaced. The opposition party APR stated that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's new government, which took office in April, is using the guise of accountability to settle scores, following recent arrests of opposition figures, reports Barron's.

Islamic veil controversy

In Senegal, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called for schools to allow girls to wear the Islamic veil, sparking controversy among Christians. The Catholic community has expressed indignation and urged schools to update their regulations to prevent conflicts over the issue. This is a recurring debate, with a recent example in 2019. As reported by La Croix International, despite the controversy, Catholic schools in Senegal are highly sought after and attended by political leaders.

Senegalese taxman surpasses expectations

Senegal’s tax authority, DGID, exceeded expectations by collecting 1,309 billion CFA francs (USD2.2 million) in the first half of 2024. This reflects the resilience of the Senegalese economy. According to APA News, the goal for the year is 2,700 billion CFA francs (USD4.5 million), with a focus on property tax. The director is optimistic about meeting and surpassing future targets.