Sénégal: Radiation Policiers 1987 Loi 87-14 Mass Dismissal

• In April 1987, President Abdou Diouf enacted Loi 87-14, leading to the mass dismissal of 6,265 Senegalese police officers.
• The dismissals followed an unprecedented police protest and revolt, triggered by the conviction of two officers for a death in custody.
• While most officers were later reinstated, approximately 1,200 remained dismissed, facing extreme precarity.
• In 1992, Interior Minister Madieng Khary Dieng promised a meticulous review of around 1,000 dossiers for potential reintegration into either the national or new municipal police.
• Efforts by families, religious leaders, and a parliamentary commission were instrumental in prompting the government to reconsider the cases.

The 13th and 14th of April 1987 mark a significant and traumatic period in Senegalese history, particularly for thousands of police families.

The 13th and 14th of April 1987 mark a significant and traumatic period in Senegalese history, particularly for thousands of police families. During this time, President Abdou Diouf enacted Loi 87-14, leading to the immediate dismissal of 6,265 law enforcement personnel. While a majority of these officers were eventually reinstated, approximately 1,200 individuals remained permanently out of service, facing severe financial hardship and uncertainty.

Five years later, in its weekend edition of February 8-9, 1992, the daily newspaper Le Soleil revisited this sensitive issue. An article by journalist Alassane Diawara, prominently featured on the front page, brought renewed attention to the plight of these dismissed officers. The report outlined two primary avenues for their potential rehabilitation: integration into the newly established Dakar municipal police force or a meticulous, case-by-case review for re-entry into the national police service.

The events of 1987 stemmed from a crisis that began in 1983, when a man suspected of stealing a car battery died while in police custody. The victim's family accused two officers of torture, leading to their conviction in 1987. The court sentenced them to two months of imprisonment and a fine of 60,000 FCFA, a judgment that ignited widespread discontent within the police ranks.

In response to the convictions, officers from the police and the Mobile Intervention Group (GMI) marched towards the Ministry of Interior in protest. This demonstration escalated into a full-blown revolt, most notably in Thiès, where the local tribunal was ransacked and judicial officials were assaulted. Faced with such a severe breakdown of discipline, President Abdou Diouf initially suspended all police forces by decree, before the National Assembly subsequently voted for their collective and definitive dismissal, formalizing the mass radiation of policiers in Sénégal under Loi 87-14.

In 1992, the possibility of rehabilitation for the dismissed officers gained momentum. Interior Minister Madieng Khary Dieng, speaking at the inauguration of the refurbished Point E police station, addressed the issue directly. He assured the public that the government was not in the habit of making empty promises, emphasizing that President Abdou Diouf considered the incident a 'closed parenthesis' and was committed to moving forward.

The Minister pledged that the dossiers of approximately one thousand peacekeepers would undergo thorough examination to facilitate the reintegration of all eligible individuals. This renewed focus on rehabilitation was the result of persistent efforts by the families of the dismissed officers, influential religious leaders, and a dedicated parliamentary commission, all of whom played a crucial role in persuading the head of state to reconsider the matter.

The mass dismissal had profound and immediate consequences, forcing many of the affected officers into exile or into precarious, makeshift career changes. However, the broader context of security infrastructure development in Dakar also played a role in the discussions around reintegration. Since 1989, Dakar's Mayor, Mamadou Diop, had been spearheading an extensive program to rehabilitate security facilities across the city.

Mayor Diop highlighted that over three years, seven police stations had been renovated at a cost of 310 million FCFA, with gendarmerie brigades in Thiong, Hann, and Ouakam slated for future improvements. This commitment to strengthening law enforcement infrastructure provided a backdrop for the government's eventual willingness to review the cases of the dismissed officers, acknowledging the need for a robust and functional police force in the capital.

Source: Original reporting via Le Soleil