Sénégal: Commission Enquête Licences Pêche Auditions Begin on 2015 Code Anomalies

• Senegal's parliamentary inquiry into fishing licenses began auditions on October 7, 2026, at the National Assembly.
• The commission, established by a unanimous vote on August 20, 2026, aims to scrutinize industrial fishing license grants and renewals since the 2015 Maritime Fisheries Code.
• Four current and former officials from the Direction des Pêches maritimes were scheduled for the initial day of hearings.
• The investigation will also examine licenses issued under international agreements and involve other relevant ministry services and industrial license beneficiaries.

The parliamentary inquiry commission in Senegal has commenced its formal hearings, focusing on the conditions under which industrial fishing licenses have been granted and renewed since the 2015 Maritime Fisheries Code came into effect.

A parliamentary inquiry commission in Senegal has commenced its formal hearings, focusing on the conditions under which industrial fishing licenses have been granted and renewed since the 2015 Maritime Fisheries Code came into effect. The initial round of auditions began on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the National Assembly, marking a significant step in the investigation into alleged irregularities within the country's fishing sector.

The establishment of this commission followed a unanimous vote on August 20, 2026, where all 129 voting members of the National Assembly approved the resolution. The initiative to create this investigative body was spearheaded by the PASTEF Les Patriotes parliamentary group, underscoring the political will to scrutinize the allocation of these crucial economic permits. The primary objective is to verify the processes surrounding the issuance and renewal of industrial fishing authorizations, alongside probing several presumed anomalies that have come to light.

The commission's mandate is comprehensive, extending beyond mere procedural checks to delve into the substantive conditions governing fishing rights. A central focus of the enquête parlementaire Sénégal pêche is the period following the implementation of the Code de la pêche maritime de 2015 Sénégal, aiming to ascertain whether licenses have been consistently awarded in accordance with its provisions. This includes a thorough examination of any alleged anomalies licences pêche industrielle that may have occurred during this timeframe.

Furthermore, the scope of the investigation is not limited to domestically issued permits. It also encompasses fishing licenses that have been granted as part of agreements or protocols established with third-party states. This broad reach ensures that all avenues through which fishing rights are acquired are subject to scrutiny, reflecting the commission's commitment to a holistic review of Senegal's fishing license landscape.

The initial day of the Sénégal commission enquête licences pêche auditions saw a lineup of four prominent current and former officials from the Direction des Pêches maritimes. The schedule, as reported by Xibaaru, outlined a series of high-profile appearances throughout the day. Mamadou Abibou Diagne, who serves as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, was the first to be heard at 8:30 AM.

Following him, Cheikh Fall, the current Director of Maritime Fisheries since November 2025, was slated for an audition at 10:30 AM. The afternoon sessions continued with Ismaïla Ndiaye, who previously held the position of Director from July 2024 to November 2025, appearing at 2:30 PM. Concluding the day's proceedings, Diène Faye, who served as Director from June 2020 to July 2024, was scheduled for 4:30 PM, ensuring that a significant period of leadership within the Direction des Pêches maritimes was covered in these initial hearings.

While the initial focus of the Direction Pêches maritimes auditions centered on key administrative figures, the broader investigation is set to encompass a wider array of governmental services and private entities. The commission's inquiries will extend to other departments within the Ministry of Fisheries, including the Direction de la protection et de la surveillance des pêches, which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing fishing regulations, and the Agence nationale des affaires maritimes.

Crucially, the scope of the investigation will also include the various actors and beneficiaries of industrial fishing licenses themselves. This indicates that the inquiry aims to understand not only the administrative processes but also the practical implications and beneficiaries of the licenses under review. The comprehensive nature of this parliamentary inquiry suggests a thorough examination of the entire ecosystem surrounding industrial fishing in Senegal.

Lawyers advising industrial fishing companies in Senegal should closely monitor the findings of this parliamentary inquiry, as it could lead to license revocations, new regulatory compliance requirements, or legal challenges related to past licensing practices under the 2015 Maritime Fisheries Code. Compliance officers should assess their companies' exposure to potential scrutiny regarding their existing fishing authorizations.

Source: Original reporting via Senego