The Unseen Hand: EU’s Role in Suppressing Senegal’s Pro-Democracy Movements
Introduction
In the last couple of years, Senegal’s democracy has been put to the test. Amidst a wave of popular protests, the government’s response has been heavy-handed, leading to a crisis of trust and a series of deadly confrontations. In a shocking twist, a joint investigation by Al Jazeera and porCausa Foundation has revealed that the EU-funded security force, the Rapid Action Surveillance and Intervention Group (GAR-SI), has been implicated in the suppression of these pro-democracy movements.
An Unlikely Accomplice
GAR-SI, a special counterterrorism unit, was created, equipped, and trained with funds from the European Union. This elite unit was initially intended to address cross-border crime issues. However, the investigation has found evidence suggesting that this EU-funded group was employed to violently suppress recent pro-democracy protests in Senegal.
The Protests: A Timeline
The trial of popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko ignited a series of demonstrations across the West African nation since 2021. These protests have resulted in dozens of fatalities. Visual evidence, Spanish government contracts, confidential reports, and various accounts indicate that GAR-SI was utilized to crush these demonstrations.
Elite Unit: GAR-SI Sahel
The GAR-SI Sahel project, which took place between 2016 and 2023, was funded by the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF for Africa). This program was implemented by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), a development agency belonging to Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Senegalese unit of GAR-SI, created in 2017, was designed to safeguard Senegal from potential incursions by armed groups and cross-border crimes, including migrant smuggling.
Allegations and Evidence
Video evidence showed security personnel, in armoured vehicles provided by the EU for GAR-SI Senegal, firing tear gas at a protest caravan organized by Sonko. Furthermore, Spanish police sources and a former senior Senegalese police officer have confirmed the use of the GAR-SI unit during pro-democracy protests in Senegal.
Human Rights Concerns
These findings have alarmed human rights groups. “These units seem to be used to repress human rights instead of fighting terrorism or surveilling the border,” said Ousmane Diallo, a researcher with Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa bureau.
EU and Spanish Government’s Stand
Despite the allegations, the EU Commission and the Spanish foreign and interior ministries have denied any knowledge of the GAR-SI unit’s involvement in the protests. They cited the lack of evidence and stated that the GAR-SI project was specifically intended to combat organised crime and protect local populations.
The Protests Continue
Despite the heavy-handed response from the government, protests in Senegal have continued. These were triggered by a series of court cases against opposition leader Sonko and the incumbent President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election, which was due in February 2024.
The Larger Picture
As the social unrest continues, irregular migration from Senegal has also seen a surge. One in three irregular arrivals to the Canary Islands in Spain were from Senegal as of August 2023. This rise in migration has led to further questions about the EU’s role and its funding of projects in the region.
Final Thoughts
The EU-funded GAR-SI project’s involvement in the suppression of pro-democracy protests in Senegal raises serious questions about the EU’s role in the region. While the project was intended to fight cross-border crime, the allegations suggest a misuse of resources and a breach of trust. This story is a glaring example of how international funding can inadvertently contribute to the suppression of democracy and human rights violations.
