Though numbering around twenty, a powerful demonstration unfolded this Sunday afternoon in Dakar, Sénégal. Feminist activists gathered vocally, demanding an immediate halt to the scourge of femicide in the West African nation.

Chanting impactful slogans such as « Le silence, ça suffit » (Silence, no more!) and « La mort ne vous appartient pas ! » (Death does not belong to you!), Aminata Libain Mbengue and her fellow advocates directly challenged the Senegalese state. They highlighted the urgent need for governmental action to protect women and girls across the country.

Mbengue emphasized that even the President of the Republic, in his December 31st address, formally pledged to implement measures to curb femicides. Yet, activists are still awaiting concrete steps. She questioned, « We want to know how many more women, how many more girls must die before the Senegalese state finally assumes its responsibilities.»

A plea for government responsiveness

As the spokesperson for the demonstrators, the feminist militant condemned the authorities’ silence on an issue often trivialized and relegated to mere news briefs in the press. Mbengue pointed out the shocking lack of official response, stating, « We cannot have a two-year-old baby raped and murdered by three men without a communiqué from the Ministry of Family and Solidarity. It’s a scandal!»

She continued, « Every time a woman or a girl is killed, we must see strong actions taken by the government. We remind them that it is their duty to protect the women and girls of this country. Femicide must be legally recognized within the penal code. The lives of women cannot wait any longer.»

After a few minutes, the protest concluded, but not without a clear directive from the feminists: they vowed to demonstrate after every murder of a woman until the state finally takes decisive action.