CNDH: Appel Grève Faim Ex-SOTRAC SIAS AMA à Suspendre

• CNDH President Professeur Amsatou Sow SIDIBÉ urged former SOTRAC, SIAS, and AMA Sénégal employees to end their hunger strike.
• The strike, which began on August 17, 2026, protests 11.4 billion CFA francs in unpaid indemnities from company liquidations.
• The unified group of 5,221 ex-workers includes many elderly and precarious individuals, with over 800 reportedly deceased without receiving full payments.
• The CNDH recommended urgent dialogue, medical support for strikers, and a transparent, progressive settlement mechanism with a precise timetable to authorities.

Crucially, the CNDH has called for the establishment of a transparent and progressive mechanism for the settlement of this significant passif social Sénégal, complete with a precise payment timetable.

The Commission nationale des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) has intervened in a hunger strike initiated by former employees of SOTRAC, SIAS, and AMA Sénégal, urging them to suspend their protest. Professeur Amsatou Sow SIDIBÉ, who presides over the CNDH, personally met with the striking workers on Friday, September 11, 2026, at their gathering point in Terminus Liberté V. This direct engagement followed the commencement of their hunger strike on August 17, 2026, a desperate measure taken to highlight their long-standing grievances.

These ex-workers, organized into a unified collective comprising 5,221 members, are demanding the payment of outstanding indemnities. Their claims stem from the liquidation of their former employers and amount to an estimated 11.4 billion CFA francs. The CNDH's visit aimed to assess their current situation and engage in discussions with their representatives regarding these significant financial demands.

The CNDH's assessment revealed the profoundly precarious conditions faced by the former employees. Many of these individuals are now elderly and live in extreme hardship, struggling to meet basic needs. A particularly tragic aspect of their situation is the reported death of over 800 members of the group, who passed away without ever receiving the full compensation owed to them.

Beyond the individual suffering, the unpaid indemnities have created severe difficulties for the families of these ex-workers. They contend with challenges related to healthcare access, the schooling of their children, and general subsistence. This widespread distress underscores the urgent need for a resolution to the long-standing issue of their unpaid dues, which has had a devastating impact on their lives and livelihoods.

In light of the severe health and life risks posed by the ongoing hunger strike, the CNDH has formally requested the workers' representatives to temporarily halt this extreme form of protest. This appeal is made with the understanding that a solution must be actively pursued in the interim. Simultaneously, the CNDH, under the leadership of Professeur Amsatou Sow SIDIBÉ, has issued strong recommendations to the Senegalese authorities.

The Commission nationale des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) advocates for the immediate initiation of dialogue between the government and the representatives of the former employees. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of providing medical care for any strikers whose health is deteriorating due to their protest. Crucially, the CNDH has called for the establishment of a transparent and progressive mechanism for the settlement of this significant passif social Sénégal, complete with a precise payment timetable. This comprehensive approach aims to address both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the underlying financial dispute concerning the indemnités ex-travailleurs SOTRAC SIAS AMA.

The CNDH's proactive intervention in the CNDH appel grève faim ex-SOTRAC SIAS AMA dispute signals a heightened focus on historical social liabilities arising from liquidation entreprises in Senegal. This move by the Commission nationale Droits Homme Sénégal underscores the persistent challenges in resolving droit du travail contentieux social Sénégal cases, particularly when large groups of former employees are affected by corporate closures.

The call for a transparent and progressive settlement mechanism, coupled with a precise timetable, suggests a potential shift towards more structured and accountable approaches to such long-standing claims. This development could set a precedent for how future or existing disputes involving unpaid worker indemnities are handled, potentially increasing pressure on both public and private entities to address their social obligations more effectively. The involvement of a high-profile figure like Professeur Amsatou Sow SIDIBÉ further amplifies the significance of this intervention, indicating that the issue of worker rights and social justice remains a critical concern in the national discourse.

The CNDH's intervention and call for dialogue and a transparent settlement mechanism for the significant unpaid indemnities of ex-workers from liquidated companies (SOTRAC, SIAS, AMA) signals increased scrutiny and potential government pressure on historical social liabilities in Senegal. Lawyers advising companies, particularly those involved in liquidations or facing long-standing employee claims, should monitor the authorities' response and prepare for potential renewed demands for settlement or the establishment of new regulatory frameworks for such cases.

Source: Original reporting via Senegalese media.