Senegal
Senegal addresses terrorism in its Criminal Code. Senegal's Parliament adopted two dedicated counterterrorism laws in 2021, one amending the Criminal Code to cover the financing of terrorism and the other amending the Code of Criminal Procedure. These have been critized for their likely impact on the exercise of fundamental human rights.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
The 2007 Law (as amended in 2016) defined terrorist acts as follows:
acts intentionally committed in relation with an individual or collective undertaking whose aim is to seriously disturb public order or the functioning of national or international institutions, through intimidation or terror, the following offences:
1. - attacks;
2. - Participation in an insurgency;
3. - violence against people and physical destruction or damage during assemblies;
4. - kidnapping and hostage taking;
5. - destruction or damage to property;
6. - damage to public property;
7. - organized crime;
8.- attempted homicide;
9. - threats;
10. - injuries and wounding;
11. - manufacture or possession of prohibited weapons;
12. - offences related to weapons of mass destruction in connection with a non-State actor
13. - introducing dangerous substances into the environment
14. - theft and extortion;
15. - information and communication crimes.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Senegal is a State Party to most of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | Signatory |
Senegal is also a State Party to one of the two regional treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1999 Algiers Convention | State Party |
| 2004 Protocol to the Algiers Convention | Signatory |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The Criminal Code lays down a range of penalties for terrorist offences. The maximum sentence is forced labour for life.
The Government rejected the suggestion that exercising the right of assembly would fall within the purview of the crime of terrorism as defined under the amended Criminal Code.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
The national gendarmerie in Senegal is responsible for counterterrorism operations along with the army.
Glossary
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