Senegal: Rights groups denounce Senegal for denying official entry

Dakar, Senegal - The International Federation of the Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) has denounced Senegal for denying its secretary-general, Paul Nsapu, a visa to enter the West African country. Nsapu was detained at Leopold Sedar Senghor airport in Dakar when he arrived to attend a meeting and has been deported. According to the statement jointly signed by FIDH, the African Rally for Human Rights (RADDHO), the Senegalese Human Rights League (LSDH), the Senegalese National Human Rights Organization (ONDH) and the International Torture Organization (OMCT), 'the detention of the FIDH secretary-general at Dakar airport is additional illustration that democracy is in danger is Senegal'. 'Mr Nsapu was coming to Senegal to present the latest report made by the Watchdog for the Protection of Human Right Activists,' said the communiqué.

It added that 'the detention aims obviously at preventing Paul Nsapu from attending the press conference held on Friday in Dakar to present the report '.

According to the communiqué, quoting the FIDH chairman, Souhayr Belhassen, 'the detention is symptomatic of the Senegalese authorities' denial of justice and rights'.

“We strongly condemn the arbitrary and unjustifiable measure and denounce a major breach to the freedom of expression,' she added.

FIDH also accused the Senegalese customs of seizing since 19 October French copies in of the report.

FIDH honorary president, Senegalese Sidiki Kaba, said the country should not fall in arbitrariness.

According to him, Senegal 'must strictly respect of the Constitution and regional and international human rights organizations which guarantee all freedom of speech, information and demonstration'.

Meanwhile, the Senegalese Interior ministry has said in a communique that Nsapu could not enter Senegal because of visa problems.

According to the communiqué, Mr Nsapu, a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 'did not meet the conditions to enter Senegal'.

The Interior ministry said Mr Nsapu, who arrived at Leopold Sedar Senghor airport on Thursday, has a 'a blue passport given by the Belgian authorities on behalf of the High Commission for refugees, and he is obliged to have visa to enter Senegal”.

The communiqué said a visa request made by FIDH chairwoman on behalf of Mr Nsapu was received on 25 October and reported to the competent authority on 26 October, but before any answer could be received from the Senegalese authorities, he arrived in Senegal.

“For not meeting the entry conditions, he, in accordance with the law, was stopped at airport by the immigration officials to be deported to where he came from,' the communiqué said.

It is about 'regular procedure, applied in all airports in the world for travelers who do not meet the conditions to entry their countries of destination'.


(2011-10-30/afriquejet.com)