Organisations defending migrants’ rights in Senegal have spoken out to denounce the persistent difficulties that Senegalese citizens face when trying to obtain visas. This mobilisation of citizens comes at a time when migration procedures are becoming increasingly stringent, lengthy, opaque and costly, often considered detrimental to human dignity.

On Sunday, 14 December 2025, Dakar was filled with migrant rights defenders. As part of an advocacy campaign for visa reform, several civil society organisations held a large march under the banner ‘For reciprocity in the issuance of visas’.

Setting off from the Bopp Centre, the marchers proceeded along a route that took them through the Colobane roundabout, the Corniche HLM, Keur Serigne Bi, the Cours Madieye Sall and the HLM market, before returning to their starting point. Along the way, they displayed awareness messages and banners with slogans denouncing what the organisers described as ‘long, opaque, inhumane and excessively costly’ visa procedures.

Upon arrival, the migrant rights organisations issued a joint statement. Meeting in Dakar, they expressed their “deep concern” about the difficulties faced by Senegalese citizens who wish to travel abroad for professional, family, academic, health or tourism reasons. “While Senegal, the country of Teranga, welcomes hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals every year with openness and fraternity, our fellow citizens continue to suffer unfair treatment in visa application procedures,” the collective of civil society organisations campaigning for visa reform told the press.

The organisations pointed out that they had initiated a dialogue with certain diplomatic representations — particularly European ones — a year ago, in the hope of humanising and reducing the cost of visa procedures. While they welcomed the progress made in African countries such as Kenya and Namibia, which had lifted visa requirements for Senegalese nationals, they regretted the lack of significant progress at the European level. The organisations believe that the visa issue poses a significant challenge to diplomatic relations, and are urging the Senegalese authorities to become more involved in the debate. They are also urging the authorities to consider introducing the principle of reciprocity with any state that restricts access to its territory for Senegalese nationals.

They recommend strengthening consular services and systematically monitoring and documenting cases of visa-related abuse or injustice. They also recommend guaranteeing the legal and administrative security of Senegalese citizens living or staying abroad. Determined to continue their fight, the civil society organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to documenting violations of migrants’ rights, supporting victims and raising public awareness. They believe that the freedom to move internationally should be a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for the few, and that states have a duty to recognise and protect this right.