Senegal
Senegalese "famine" was false report

afrol News, 29 August - International donors had been alerted to raise funds for five million Senegalese risking starvation in northern and central parts of the country. The reports were however false, and President Abdoulaye Wade has sacked the responsible civil servants and apologised to the donor community.

After visiting the so-called famine affected areas, the Senegalese President on Monday on his own established that "there is no famine anywhere in Senegal." Wade denounced the "campaign" launched in the press and by local employees, "misleading the government to launch an international appeal for food aid," according to a government statement. 

The President recognised there had been difficulties in the groundnut production and sale, which is an issue of dispute in Senegalese politics as the important sector is undergoing reform. He however had observed that those struggling to make ends meet were obtaining free government food aid. 

President Wade today went further and sacked his Communications Adviser, Cherif Elvalide Seye, and the Head of national television and radio, Mactar Silla. These two had not taken responsibility during the "campaign" of disinformation and had contributed to the spread of misleading reports. The President further apologised to the international community for having made a false emergency appeal.

By the time Wade had "discovered" the falsity of the famine reports, much damage had however already been made. The government already had set up an emergency relief unit to meet the alleged food crisis and the international community was getting ready to raise US$ 23 million for the assumed hunger victims. 

Sources: Based on Senegalese govt, press reports and afrol archives

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