Senegal: Whether individuals of Diola (Jola) origin from the Casamance region are discriminated against by the ruling elite, the civil service and other ethnic groups in other regions of Senegal and whether any persons of Diola origin have held any substantial positions of power in Senegal since its independence
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SEN29180.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Senegal: Whether individuals of Diola (Jola) origin from the Casamance region are discriminated against by the ruling elite, the civil service and other ethnic groups in other regions of Senegal and whether any persons of Diola origin have held any substantial positions of power in Senegal since its independence, 1 April 1998, SEN29180.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac878.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
During a 29 April 1998 telephone interview, a representative of the Organisation nationale des droits de l'homme (ONDH), a Senegalese non-governmental human rights organization affiliated to the Fédération international des Ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) and to the Union interafricaine des droits de l'homme (UIADH) indicated that his organization is not aware of any case of discrimination against members of Diola ethnic group, stet by the ruling elite nor by other ethnic groups in other regions of the country. The representative of the ONDH stated that some members of the Diola ethnic group held substantial positions of power. He cited the case of the both current Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Equipment and Land Transport who are members of Diola ethnic group (ibid.).
An official (minister-counsellor) of the Embassy of Senegal in Ottawa stated during a 29 April 1998 telephone interview, that members of Diola ethnic group are well represented in civil service. The minister-counsellor who claimed to be a member of the Dialo ethnic group confirmed the fact that the two above-mentioned cabinet ministers are members of the Dialo ethnic group.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request
Reference
Embassy of Senegal, Ottawa. 29 April 1998. Telephone interview with minister-counsellor.
Organisation nationale des droits de l'homme (ONDH), Dakar. 29 April 1998. Telephone interview with a representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1991- March 1998.
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1991- January 1998.
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1992- April 1998.
La lettre hebdomadaire de la FIDH [Paris]. 1994 to present.
Resource Centre country file: Senegal. 1991 to present.
West Africa [London]. 1993- 1997.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
Two oral sources consulted did not provide information on the mentioned subjects.
